IA-SEN

Grassley Ad Features Twitter, Texting -- And Nose-Piercing (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 13, 2010, 2:57PM

Ad from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), "Grassley Works for Us - Twitter"

Check out this fun new ad from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who is expected to easily steamroll to a sixth term this year. It really does seem to be a truly rare instance of an older man trying to look cool for the younger generation -- and maybe just succeeding.

The ad opens with two older women worrying that Grassley has something called a "twitter," possibly believing it be some kind of dire medical condition -- when in fact, of course, it refers to the 76-year-old Senator's well-known usage of the popular website, complete with the shorthand and slang used by teenagers.

"I like to use new technologies like Twitter and Facebook, just to keep in touch -- and meetings in 99 counties, every year," Grassley says to the camera, along with visuals of his fingers working on a BlackBerry. "I'll tweet, I'll text, I'll do whatever it takes. I work for you."

The ad then closes with a visual that might never have been seen before in a Republican ad -- a young woman with a nose-piercing, depicted in a positive manner, declaring that Grassley works "for us." Remember that infamous Club For Growth ad in Iowa in 2004, ridiculing Howard Dean's supporters as a bunch of body-piercers? We've come a long, long way.

The TPM Poll Average gives Grassley a lead of 55.1%-34.6% over Democratic nominee Roxanne Conlin.

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Chuck Grassley

Bob Dole Goes After Czars, ACORN In Letter For Grassley

Christina Bellantoni | November 23, 2009, 3:43PM

Former Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS) Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)

Bob Dole may like the health care bill, but Bob Dole has plenty to criticize in the Obama administration.

Dole has signed on to be Sen. Chuck Grassley's national finance chairman for his reelection campaign. In a letter to Grassley supporters, Dole blasted Obama has hiring "30 of his cronies as 'czars' over massive new bureaucracies with billions of dollars in budgets and thousands of employees."

Dole also said MoveOn and ACORN are trying to unseat Grassley (R-IA), who he believes has been instrumental in standing up to Obama. Grassley, Dole argued, is "good for America."

Grassley has been one of Obama's loudest detractors, and especially opposes the health care plan. Dole has argued for the plan's passage, though last month sparred with Democrats over use of his support in a political ad.

Dole takes aim at health care in this letter, saying Grassley is trying to block "an attempt to allow government to take over health care and for Washington bureaucrats to decide which patients sees which doctor and what limits and access there will be on their treatments, drugs and therapies."

That's a far cry from Dole's statement last month:

The American people have waited decades and if this moment passes us by, it may be decades more before there is another opportunity. The current approaches suggested by the Congress are far from perfect, but they do provide some basis on which Congress can move forward and we urge the joint leadership to get together for America's sake.

Oh yeah, and Dole says liberals are trying to please Castro and Chavez.

Read Dole's full letter to Grassley fans after the jump.

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IA-SEN

Christie Vilsack Not Running For Senate Against Grassley

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 11:25AM

Fmr. Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack (D)

Former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack has announced that she will not run for Senate against five-term incumbent republican Chuck Grassley in 2010, the Des Moines Register reports.

A recent Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll had shown Vilsack trailing Grassley by a margin of 51%-40% -- which was actually pretty good, considering that Grassley has never been re-elected with less than 66% of the vote.

Vilsack said in her statement: "Committing to a campaign for the US Senate next year requires more than the confidence that I have the right experience, the necessary support and the resources to be successful. It must come with an understanding that it is the best way for me serve our State and my fellow Iowans in the most effective way possible at this time."

IA-SEN

Christie Vilsack Considering Run For Senate Against Grassley

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2009, 3:48PM

Fmr. Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack (D)

Former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack, wife of former Gov. Tom Vilsack, now says she's considering a run for Senate in 2010 against Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley.

"I think I'm qualified to serve, so time will tell." Vilsack told WHO-TV, the central Iowa NBC station.

"You know, I've spent the last 12 years traveling around the state, developing a relationship with the people of Iowa," she explained, "and I just really appreciate the fact that people have been so supportive in suggesting this. But, as I said, time will tell."

Grassley was first elected in the 1980 Reagan landslide, and has been re-elected by comfortable margins ever since, winning 70% of the vote in 2004.

(Via The Political Carnival.)