Statewide Iowa — Republican Chuck Grassley says he’s not concerned by a new poll that shows his bid for an eighth U.S. Senate term may be his toughest race since 1980.
A Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll released this weekend shows nearly two-thirds of voters surveyed about Grassley’s race against Democrat Mike Franken have concerns about Grassley’s age. That includes more than a third of the Republicans who said they’ll vote for the 89-year-old, despite their concerns about his age.
Grassley made his comments on October 18th during an interview with Iowa radio reporters. Grassley has been emphasizing his more than four decades of experience in the Senate, but only a third of Iowa Poll respondents said they view Grassley’s tenure as an asset. If he’s elected, Grassley will be the longest serving senator. If Republicans win a majority of seats, he’ll be the president pro term of the Senate, which makes him fourth in line to the presidency.
Grassley says if Iowans elect his opponent to the senate, Franken will have little seniority compared to the influence he’d have, perhaps as chairman of the Budget Committee in 2025 if Republicans have a majority in the senate. Grassley’s seniority positions him to return as chairman of the Judiciary Committee for the next two years if Republicans win more seats than Democrats this November.
