Iowa Republican Sen. Charles E. Grassley, who has been a titanic political figure in his state for decades, could face a competitive race for a sixth term -- particularly if Democrat Christie Vilsack chose to challenge him.
A Daily Kos/Research 2000 survey conducted Oct. 12-14 had Grassley with a 51 percent to 40 percent lead over Vilsack, a lawyer and teacher who is married to Tom Vilsack, President Obama's Agriculture secretary and Iowa's governor from 1999 through 2006.
There's been speculation that Vilsack is the unnamed "mystery candidate" that Iowa Democratic leaders have promised will soon announce a campaign and give Grassley his toughest re-election fight ever. Grassley has won at least 66 percent of the vote in each of his four Senate re-election campaigns, usually against hapless Democratic opposition.
Of the four announced or potential Democratic challengers included in this poll, Christie Vilsack polls the strongest against Grassley. The senator has a 51 percent to 39 percent lead over Democratic lawyer Roxanne Conlin, who hasn't ruled out a Senate campaign.
Grassley has larger leads over the two little-known Democrats who are already seeking the seat -- former state legislators Bob Krause and Tom Fiegen.
Grassley, 76, is viewed favorably by 55 percent of respondents and unfavorably by 40 percent, not far off the numbers for Obama (55/36) and Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin (54/35).
The survey also showed Democratic Gov. Chet Culver with large leads over two announced challengers but narrowly trailing former Republican Gov. Terry E. Branstad, who last week formed a committee to explore running again for the office he held from 1983 through 1998.
CQ Politics currently rates the Senate race as Safe Republican.
To see how the 2010 Senate races are shaping up, check out the CQ Politics' election map.
-- Greg Giroux
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