Iowa features just one statewide race

There is only one statewide race in Iowa this election — the race for U.S. Senate. Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports in the second edition of her campaign countdown. There are a couple of similarities in the two major party candidates. Both are 71 years old and both are pro-life. That’s about it, though. Charles Grassley — Iowa’s most popular republican — is seeking a fifth term in the U-S Senate and has amassed a campaign war chest of over seven million dollars. Grassley’s democratic challenger, Art Small, has a very small campaign budget. He’s raised less than $100,000 and describes himself as David to Grassley’s Goliath. After three decades in Washington, Grassley has risen through the ranks to serve as chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee — the panel that writes federal tax law and he was among those who shepharded the recent round of tax cuts through Congress. “When Congress is in session, I’m there doing the job — the best attendance of any senator,” Grassley says. “I”ve tried to empower the people of Iowa so that they could handle more of their tax money. I’ve tried to represent the seniors of citizens of America by making the most sweeping changes in Medicare — with affordable prescription drugs — in (the program’s) 38-year history.” Small says that’s not enough. “I agree he works hard,” Small says. “What I’m interested in is what does he do, how does he vote, what does he push for?” Small, who lives in Iowa City, served in the Iowa legislature for 15 years and once headed the Senate Appropriations Committee. “If it were the old Chuck Grassley I probably wouldn’t have entered the race,” Small says. “He always used to talk persuasively about the need for balanced budgets, for fiscal responsibility. The last four years when he’s been chair of the Senate Finance Committee all of that changed. Now, he pushed for one tax cut after another tax cut after another tax cut, and also voted for all the spending and the result is we have the largest deficits in American history.” Grassley has a response. “We cut taxes to rejuvenate the economy,” Grassley says. “You can’t get out of a deficit just by raising tax rates.” The two men made their comments on Iowa Public Television.