Mid-Vacation Roundup

Mid-Vacation Roundup

My convoluted vacation plans have me at the John Deeth Blog News Center for a bit so I'll tie up some loose ends.

---

The Overrated One The Overrated One looooves the Murphy-McCarthy axis:

While the party has an urban, left-of-center, base, the icing on their majority has been the recent election of rural Democrats from more conservative districts.

'We know we got the majority, and we won it in rural areas,' Murphy said.

It'll drive the liberals nuts, but it could keep the Democrats in power for years.

Oh, so that solid Democratic delegation from Johnson County - including that Senate seat we picked up - and that 17,000 vote Culver margin had nothing to do with it. Must not have, as Yepsen even skips the obligatory espresso-based beverage joke.

Once again, the Democrats play to their least supportive voters, while those of us who knocked the doors get the shaft. When are the Dems gonna dance with those of us who brung `em?

At least some sorts of taxes are on the table:

Shrinking state revenues available for fixing roads and rising highway construction costs could build pressure for Iowa lawmakers to consider the first gas tax hike since 1989 or other increase in licenses or fees

Urban liberal base here: Let's make the SUV drivers pay for some buses and bike trails.

Greg Giroux of CQPolitics rates the most interesting contests of the cycle:

Biggest surprise: Democrat David Loebsack, a college professor, upset 15-term Republican Rep. Jim Leach in Iowa’s 2nd District and broke the GOP moderate’s hold on a constituency that overall is Iowa’s most Democratic-leaning.

I had written before about Loebsack’s candidacy, the partisan nature of the southeastern Iowa district, and Leach’s aversion to the breakneck fundraising and smash-mouth tactics that many incumbents employ to ward off political opponents. But I just didn’t think that Leach would lose in the end.

Other thoughts from CQ writers Marie Horrigan and Rachel Kapochunas.

O.Kay watches Vilsack on CNN and notes the contrast to Harkin 1992:

"This time around, Vilsack suggested he wants other candidates to compete here to legitimize his candidacy. 'This is a much different situation and a much different time,' Vilsack said."

Very different: Harkin has his home state party locked up; Vilsack does not.

C-N-N anchor Wolf Blitzer directly asked Vilsack if he believes Hillary Clinton will come into Iowa to compete against him.

Vilsack did not directly answer:

'I don't think it's about challenging me, Wolf. I think it's about talking about the future of this country,' Vilsack said. 'You can't have deficits, you can't have a lack of discussion about health care and energy security, and a national and foreign policy that has essentially alienated most of our friends and somehow united most of our enemies. We need to have a debate about that in the state of Iowa and across the country and I welcome that debate. I look forward to that debate.'

Huh?

This plays straight into the Stalking Horse theory: The major players - Clinton, God forbid Gore - have nothing to gain by an Iowa win. Vilsack's betting they skip out. TV figures he stumbles to a 30 percent win, knocks out three or so legitimate contenders to the Not Hillary crown, and gains major points for Number Two or Prominent Cabinet Post to be named later.

Preserve some dignity, Governor. Let this fantasy go now. Do a cycle as state party chair then start running for Grassley's seat.

Russ Feingold had a shot, bit won't rule out #2 either says my old hometown paper the LaCrosse Tribune

ONALASKA, Wis. — U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold admitted Monday at a listening session in Onalaska City Hall he’d have to seriously think about it if asked to be a presidential running mate.

Love that dateline from my old home town - where I'm headed tomorrow.

New blog Political Fallout from the folks who gave us Nussle and Flow.