Iowa Senate Race Sets Spending Record

Freshman Sen. Tom Harkin is battling history in his bid to defeat Republican challenger and congressman Tom Tauke.

Iowa voters have yet to give a Democrat a second term in the U.S. Senate, and Harkin’s opponent, U.S. Rep. Tom Tauke, is doing his best to ensure that Harkin doesn’t become the first.

The two Toms are waging the most expensive campaign ever undertaken in Iowa. Harkin plans to spend $6 million, and Tauke, a six-term congressman from northeast Iowa, hopes to counter that by spending $5 million.

Nowhere in the country, Harkin told his supporters recently, will the voters have a clearer choice this year, and nowhere will Democrats be pushed harder.

“They’re coming after me with everything they’ve got,” Harkin warned.

The candidates have been airing television commercials since spring. They have disagreed on abortion rights, the Persian Gulf crisis and on how they are paying for their campaigns.

Through it all, Harkin, 50, has held a lead of 10 to 12 percentage points in most polls.

Republicans argue that Tauke, 39, has positioned himself to overtake Harkin in the stretch. Democrats say that Tauke hasn’t made a dent in Harkin’s lead and is running out of time.

“We’re surprised that the race is not closer,” said Harkin spokesman Phil Roeder. “A year ago, heading into this campaign, we anticipated it would be a dead heat going into the final couple of months, and it’s not.”

“We couldn’t be happier with where we are,” said Tauke aide Allen Finch.

Harkin has emerged as a pesky critic of Republican presidents, and GOP officials concede that he is a strong campaigner.

“Absolutely, this is a tough one,” said Richard Schwarm, Iowa Republican chairman. “This Senate race was going to be tough any time, but Tom Harkin has proven relatively slippery.”

Democrats have a registration edge of roughly 100,000 voters, “but a Republican can certainly win statewide in Iowa with those numbers,” he said.

The candidates are facing off in four prime-time debates on live commercial television throughout the state.

Tauke dug himself into a hole in the most recent debate by focusing on the abortion issue, some analysts said. In a state where nearly two-thirds of voters consider themselves “pro-choice,” Tauke said he opposed abortion even for rape and incest victims.

Harkin took a more moderate stand. He said he would be willing to consider measures such as limited requirements that a parent be notified before a minor gets an abortion.

Tauke’s staffers argue that he has long held anti-abortion views and couldn’t afford to waffle on the issue. Critics said he missed a chance to win votes from moderates.

Democrats saw it as one more thing going their way.

“I don’t think we’ve seen a challenging candidate run such a poor campaign,” said Iowa Democratic Party spokesman Joe Shannahan.

But Finch argued that issues such as abortion are fading from voters’ minds in the face of world events.

“I think what can be said is the Persian Gulf has overshadowed virtually all other issues,” he said.

Tauke is completely supportive of President Bush’s efforts in the Persian Gulf. Harkin has argued that more pressure should be exerted on other nations for greater support, and has criticized Bush’s activation of reserves.

Tauke criticizes Harkin for raising 90% of his larger contributions from outside the state. Harkin says that he has backed campaign finance legislation thwarted by Republicans in Congress.

Harkin represented southwest Iowa’s 5th District for 10 years before he ousted Republican Roger Jepsen from the Senate in 1984. Tauke has represented the heavily Democratic 2nd District for 12 years.