Why is Chuck Grassley such an unbeatable powerhouse in Iowa?

[JRP1994]

Iowa's a purple/tilt-blue state. How the heck.........

2010: R+31.05 (Grassley vote share 64.35%)
2004: R+42.31 (Grassley vote share 70.18%)
1998: R+37.92 (Grassley vote share 68.41%)
1992: R+42.41 (Grassley vote share 69.61%)
1986: R+32.46 (Grassley vote share 66.04%)
1980: R+7.95   (Grassley vote share 53.48%)

Question: How on earth has Grassley managed to run up Oklahoma-like margins in a purpleish-blue state?

[IceSpear]

Good question. I'm guessing a lot of Iowans are under the mistaken assumption that he's a moderate. The fact that Democrats haven't seriously tried to compete with him since 1980 certainly doesn't help matters.

[KCDem]

Corruption and vote buying.

[Flake]

He's seen as a moderate and people love him there. The yearly tours of Iowa don't hurt his re-election prospects either.

[Miles]

If Republicans win the Senate race and IA-03, they could well have him to thank.

[Indy Texas]

1986: R+32.46 (Grassley vote share 66.04%)

The fact that he did that well in a cycle that was terrible for Republicans nationwide but especially in the Upper Midwest is really striking.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I think he's like Hagel, pretty right-wing, but sometimes says something intelligent rather than being the foaming at the mouth type of right-winger.

[Bacon King]

"Work on farm Fri. Burning piles of brush WindyFire got out of control. Thank God for good naber He help get undr control PantsBurnLegWound."

-Senator Charles Ernest "Chuck" Grassley

[Maxwell]

I was about to say farm issues, but he voted no on the last Farm bill, so this is really pretty puzzling.

My second answer would be then his connection to Iowa. He puts this image out that he's just like them, and he plays the part very good.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

"Work on farm Fri. Burning piles of brush WindyFire got out of control. Thank God for good naber He help get undr control PantsBurnLegWound."

-Senator Charles Ernest "Chuck" Grassley

That's already more intelligent than most things Republicans say.

[PAK Man]

He's got a very personable image. Every year, he visits all 99 Iowa counties (regardless of their political lean) and seems to make it a point to go out of his way to meet constituents. I've never met him myself, but I know Democrats who can't stand his political views but will say he's one of the nicest people they've ever met. I think that helps translate to success at the voting booth each year.

There's also the fact that he's never been seriously challenged, as has been previously mentioned. His most serious challenge was probably in 2010 when he faced ex-U.S. Attorney Roxanne Conlin. Interestingly, that's Grassley's first election since 1980 where he didn't win every county in the state (Conlin won Johnson County, where Iowa City is located).

[Mr. Reactionary]

"Work on farm Fri. Burning piles of brush WindyFire got out of control. Thank God for good naber He help get undr control PantsBurnLegWound."

-Senator Charles Ernest "Chuck" Grassley

That's already more intelligent than most things Republicans Politicians say.

[Gustaf]

Popular senators routinely get easily reelected in states normally hostile to their party. Why is this surprising?