Jim Gibbons wants to take down Rep. Leonard L. Boswell, (D-Iowa).

Gibbons, a former championship wrestling coach at Iowa State University, is seeking the Republican nomination to oppose Boswell in the 3rd district in and around Des Moines.

Gibbons, who left coaching in 1992 and is now a financial adviser and television analyst, told The Iowa Republican blog that he is "concerned about the direction of the country. Spending is out of control in Washington; it's unsustainable."

The fact that former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee dropped by Iowa Wednesday, to raise money for a Republican who is running for governor, was a sign that two competitions are heating up at once:

• Next year's potentially crowded primary for governor, in which Republican voters will pick a challenger to incumbent Democrat Gov. Chet Culver.

• The maneuverings by Republicans considering the possibility of running for president in 2012, who one by one have been paying visits -- that look anything but coincidental -- to Iowa, the host of the traditional first-in-the-nation presidential election year caucuses.

Huckabee, who sought the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, has eschewed placing national implications on his appearance on behalf of Bob Vander Plaats -- a businessman who ran unsuccessfully for the 2002 Republican nomination for governor and again in 2006 as the Republicans' nominee for lieutenant governor.

Iowa Republican Charles E. Grassley is heavily favored to win a sixth Senate term when he runs in 2010. And he will not be the only member of his family seeking re-election in Iowa: Pat Grassley is going for a third term in the state House.

But unlike many political "dynasties," the Grassley duo is not father and son. Rather it is grandfather and grandson. None of the elder Grassley's five children ever delved into politics.

"Maybe it skips a generation," said Pat Grassley, who recently turned 26 years old.

While several Iowa Republicans continue to mull challenging Democratic Gov. Chet Culver in his 2010 election, the GOP field has been winnowed by one. State Auditor David Vaudt's office confirmed to CQ Politics that he will not run for governor, and instead will seek re-election to his current office.

Vaudt's decision was first reported Monday by Iowa media outlets. He told the Des Moines Register that his experience as auditor is paramount given the fiscal difficulties facing the state. "This is a very critical time for Iowa, and we need a strong voice and an experienced voice to keep Iowans in tune with what's really taking place with our finances," Vaudt said.

Vaudt also told Radio Iowa that he had considered the governor's race but that he is "very concerned about Iowa's long-term finances."

A bill that would set mortgage standards and aims to curb predatory lending practices was easily passed by the House Thursday on a 300-114 vote, with the support of all but three participating members of the Democratic majority, as well as 60 Republicans.

And the measure proved popular with members from partisan swing districts.

Of the 34 Republican lawmakers from districts that split their tickets to back Democrat Barack Obama in the 2008 election, 25 (or 74 percent) voted for the bill.

The bill was drew much less support, on a percentage basis, from members whose districts went Republican both for president and the House last year. "Aye" votes were cast by just 35 of the 144 Republicans (24 percent) from districts that favored Republican John McCain over Obama.

Republican Rep. Steve King has has indicated that he is considering a challenge to Democratic incumbent Chet Culver in next year's race for governor of Iowa. And while King told CQ Politics Thursday morning that the matter isn't on his mind when he goes to sleep at night, he left the door open to the possibility.

"No decision has been made," King said in an interview at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

The adjournment of the state legislature's annual session -- which will start the run-up to the state's 2010 election season in earnest -- just occured on Sunday, and King said he's going to "let the dust settle."

A former Iowa state lawmaker has announced an exploratory committee to challenge Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, in 2010.

Bob Krause, chairman of the Iowa Democratic Veterans Caucus, hopes that Grassley's status as a five-term incumbent will turn out to be a weakness.

"As a good farmer like Sen. Grassley would know, 51 years is a long time between crop rotations," Krause said in an interview. He added that lawmakers tend to become disconnected with constituents after spending so much time in Washington, and their perspectives change.

He also criticized Grassley's recent disapproval of AIG executive bonuses, arguing that in 1999, Grassley supported the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act which removed barriers among banking, securities and insurance companies.