Breaking: Tom Harkin to retire

[Rooney]

I never voted for Harkin but I really never minded the guy. I liked his dedication to open government. Braley will be a much worse senator. I am no expert on the politics of my state (or any other for that matter) but I would assume the 2014 U.S. Senate race will be Braley vs. King and Braley will win by six or seven points. The race for Braley and King's house seats may be interesting. This also means the Democrats will have to put up with Governor Culver as their governor nominee for a third time, that is unless Tom Vilsack gives up his desk job at the Wallace Building and return to Mount Pleasant. Vilsack vs. Branstad would be an epic battle of Iowan political heavyweights and also an amazing struggle of awkward names.