Steve King first hit my radar when Gil Gutknecht transported him across the Iowa border in the 2006 congressional race to talk about immigration.
That worked out great. For the DFL, which elected Tim Walz to represent a part of the world historically favoring Republicans.
King's returned to Southern Minnesota--most recently as keynote speaker for the 2010 First Congressional Republican Convention about a year ago. The citizens of the First picked Walz again in November.
Walz's tenure may no longer get a boost from the conservative Northwest Iowa Republican, who has had his own borders shifted with Iowa's loss of a seat in Congress. The Fourth is now more liberal, stretching over to include the college town of Ames and Mason City. Ah, the fluidity of political borders.
And a serious threat to King, Christie Vilsack, is moving to Ames, with the intent to run for Congress. The distaff Vilsack has the potential to both unseat King and to end Iowa's presence on the exclusive club of states that have not yet sent women to Congress or the Governor's mansion:
Iowa, it turns out, is one of only two states that has never elected a woman to the House, the Senate, or the governor's mansion. The other, in case you were wondering, is Mississippi.
No offense to Mississippi, which did open the nation's first public college for women in 1884, but the dishonor is particularly unexpected-and embarrassing-for Iowa. While Mississippi was dead last in a 1998 study of civic culture in American states [PDF], Iowa is noted for engagement, tolerance, equality, and support for civil rights and women's rights.
King has been working overtime--with his BFF Michele Bachmann--to dial back Iowa's tolerant culture.
The Worthington Globe noted in an editorial, A possible challenge to King:
. . .Democrats have got to be pleased at the prospect of Vilsack’s intent to run, as they no doubt would savor a defeat of King. While King has certain proven to be popular enough to win comfortable re-elections, he has proven to be a frequent opposing-party target as a result of either controversial or factually questionable statements. He has also become a favorite within the Tea Party movement; the AP noted Wednesday that “he is often allied with Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann as she explores a run for the (presidential) nomination.”
Can Vilsack win? It’s too early to tell, but Democrats should be happy that they could well have a legitimate chance.
If nothing else, should Vilsack prove to be a skilled campaigner, King may have to stay on his side of the border. Without King's brand of crazy fury coming to the First, it's a good thing Walz--who still doesn't have a declared opponent--is fundraising at a healthy clip.
Photo: Can we protect southern Minnesota's bullhead population and close the Iowa border? Congressman Steve King, as interpreted by the good folks at Down with Tyranny.
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