He said the term “problem solver” about a half-dozen times. The governor was laying out his party’s case for finding someone, a problem solver, to run against Democratic First District Congressman Bruce Braley, the only declared candidate for retiring Senator Tom Harkin’s seat next year. But in making his comment, he opened himself up to the obvious followup: what about Fourth District Congressman Steve King, who has been seriously looking at running for senate? King, of course, is a congressman. Branstad responded, “I’m not going to speak for anybody.” He added these lines, “Congress is so messed up” and “need somebody who’s going to come there (Washington) with fresh ideas.” That would seem one way or the other, he isn’t pushing for Congressman King.

Kevin Hall, of the www.theiowarepublican.com , reported over the weekend King is meeting with family and close advisors this week while congress isn’t in session as he works to make a decision on running. Does Branstad know something that he’s not saying, that the growing speculation about King is true, that he will not run for senate? If so, the governor didn’t say. He just wants an Iowa problem solver. He also didn’t say who he thinks that person is.

But former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker, Red Oak State Senator Joni Ernst, Secretary of State Matt Schultz and Department of Inspections and Appeals Director Rod Roberts may want to add problem solver to their job histories on their resumes.

In February, Iowa Third District Republican Congressman Tom Latham said he wouldn’t run for the U.S. Senate seat that Democratic Senator Tom Harkin is giving up next year. This week, Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds said she wouldn’t either. Fourth District Congressman Steve King still hasn’t said whether he will run. Neither has Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. But there’s increasing speculation neither man will go forward with a run. With the most well-known names likely to pass on a run, it opens up what looks like a crowded field of possible candidates weighing campaigns.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the National Republican Senatorial Committee is in Iowa talking about the race. Republican sources confirm the NRSC will meet with nearly two dozen potential candidates and key operatives during the visit.

Former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker, Secretary of State Matt Schultz and Red Oak State Senator Joni Ernst are three of the most serious candidates looking at a run.

Here’s the story in the Washington Post

Other states know that. And obviously potential 2016 presidential candidates do, too. I know of at least three possible candidates with Iowa travel plans.

Rand Paul

Tuesday morning, Republican Party of Iowa Chairman A.J. Spiker announced on WHO radio talk show host’s Jan Mickelson’s show that Kentucky Senator Rand Paul will headline the party’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner in Cedar Rapids on May 10th. Paul’s received a lot of attention recently with his old-fashioned 13-hour filibuster on the senate floor on the White House’s policy on drones and he won the CPAC unofficial straw poll in D.C. last weekend. Paul’s a hot name right now in the 2016 field, no doubt. I’ll be curious of the reaction for the Paul invite that will follow, though. Some think the Paul crowd in Iowa has already taken over the Republican’s state central committee and key party infrastructure. Critics argue they care more about continuing the Ron Paul agenda/legacy than growing the party, winning elections, etc. But their defenders argue that they could, in fact, be growing the party, by reaching out to the libertarians, which could be appealing to younger voters (who may collectively care more about fiscal issues/opportunity/debt than social issues like same-sex marriage and abortion). And Rand Paul could be a man who could carry that message.

Rick Santorum

2012 Iowa Caucus winner Rick Santorum isn’t leaving Iowa behind. Santorum’s Patriot Voices organization keeps him in the news and on the guest lists across the country. He is the national spokesman for the John Paul II Medical Research Institute in Iowa City led by Kim Lehman, the former Republican National Committeewoman and Santorum 2012 backer. Santorum will headline a luncheon for the Give Cures Lunch April 15th in Des Moines.

Scott Walker

Wisconsin’s Scott Walker tried to weaken some of the power of the unions in his state, which drew the love from Republicans. He also survived the unions’ revenge in their unsuccessful recall effort. Walker hasn’t ruled out a 2016 presidential bid. He will headline the Polk County GOP’s annual Robb Kelley Club Spring Dinner. That takes place Thursday, May 23rd in West Des Moines. Walker may not be as well-known in Iowa as the other two men. But he’s a new face getting newfound national attention.

Three men in two months in one state. Hello, 2016.

Upmeyer and Senator Janet Petersen, a Des Moines Democrat, both appeared on Channel 13′s “The Insiders” to address both the praise and criticism for a new book, “Lean In”, written by Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg.

Both women acknowledge a female who shows strong leadership gets unfairly called pushy or worse. Petersen said, “It does seem like women need more encouragement. They need more push. Men don’t seem to need that as much as women do. So we need to do a better job to push women to take leadership roles.”

The two lawmakers, both working mothers, also admit feeling guilty about the time commitments their job requires of them. Upmeyer said, “Absolutely,” that she has felt torn about serving in public office, which requires her to drive nearly two hours to Des Moines’ state capitol building and said she couldn’t have run for office if her children were still young. “Not from two hours away. Not in our current culture,” she said.

Petersen said she was a newlywed when she ran for office. “My kids have known no other life.”

For part 2, click here

The two lawmakers say while there may seem to be two far different plans to reform health care before them at the statehouse, they may actually be close to coming to agreement.

For part 3, click here

Upmeyer and Petersen give their takes on what’s the best way to use the state’s surplus tax dollars in light of comments by Republican State Auditor Dave Vaudt.

For part 4, click here

It’s time for a pay raise according to some Iowa lawmakers. What is the least money Iowans should make per hour? Plus, the two lawmakers give their fast takes on everything from making a point with props to Coffeegate to why we can carry a hockey stick on an airplane but not shampoo.

For part 5, click here

The panelists offer predictions for the future that are both very similar and very different at the same time.

Huckabee said during his interview with King, “Gosh, I’ve been in Iowa a lot. And if anything, Steve King would be an incredibly strong candidate, probably enough to scare a lot of the other Republicans off the ballot.”

King offered his appreciation for Huckabee’s kind words. He also continued his criticism of the Obama White House for releasing suspected illegal immigrants and blaming sequestration cuts. King said, “We find out this administration doesn’t need to have legal direction or legal justification for what they do. They just do whatever the politics of the moment seem to reward them and more forward accordingly.”

King also disagreed with fellow Republicans’ push for immigration reform.

Here’s the interview from Huckabee’s radio show.

For part 2, click here

For part 3, click here

For part 4, click here

For part 5, click here

Dear Friends,

Yes, you read the subject line correctly. This Friday, March 1st, at Raccoon River Brew Pub at 6:30 p.m., I will announce a campaign. I realize this probably comes as a surprise, and two weeks ago I would not have predicted it. But upon deep reflection and deliberation, I am certain this is the right thing to do.

That’s all I’m saying for now, as I work to learn a new element of political discipline: timing. In the 2006 Democratic Primary for Governor, Mike Blouin proved to be a wizard at timing. First he announced an exploratory committee announcement. Then he announced the actual exploratory committee. Then he explored. That was followed by an announcement that there would be an announcement on a decision as to whether he would actually run for Governor. Finally, Blouin announced he was running. It didn’t matter that there were less than 20 people at each essentially redundant event. The media were dutifully interested and in attendance each and every time.

While I will never become that “good” at timing, I can at least keep my mouth shut until 6:30 p.m. this coming Friday, right?

Friday is also my 55th birthday, so we’re turning this puppy into a real party. (It’s also Sequester Day and the 203rd anniversary of Frederic Chopin’s birth. But let’s stay focused.) Here’s the lowdown, also available on my Website and Facebook Page, where updates will be posted as they arise:

March 1 – Birthday Party and Campaign Announcement (Des Moines)
Help Ed celebrate his 55th birthday from 5:00-10:00 pm at Raccoon River Brew Pub, (10th &  Mulberry). Please, no gifts or cards. Just come, patronize one of Ed’s favorite local businesses, play some pool, enjoy the conversation and have a fantastic time. At 6:30, Ed will announce his upcoming campaign, explaining why it’s important and why you will want to be involved. Contact Ed for more (but not too much more) information.

Fallon stuck to his pledge not to spill the beans about his announcement before his actual announcement came Friday night. Some mistook the content of his original email. They assumed when he talked about a campaign that he was running for office again, maybe congress. But Bill Clinton taught us better than assuming things. Remember when he told us:

“I want to say one thing to the American people. I want you to listen to me. I’m going to say this again: I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky,” Clinton famously declared.

He added this for good measure: “There is not a sexual relationship, an improper sexual relationship or any other kind of improper relationship.”

So, we later learned the president was trying to play semantics with his dealings with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. He tried to claim that he was telling the truth about “did not have sexual relations”, because she did things to him, not the other way around. I won’t insert the cigar story claims here.

We also learned he tried to pull a fast one, as well, when he said “there IS not a sexual relationship.” Sure, maybe that was true that, at that moment, there is no relationship. But we figured out he said IS for a reason. Had he said “there WAS no relationship”, that would have been a lie.

Sorry for the long tangent, which might seem a bit extreme. But, I’m trying to make the point that that whole episode changed me as a reporter. I listen far more carefully now to how a person explains things. So when Fallon’s talked about a campaign, which had followed previous comments he made about not wanting to run for office…well, just call me skeptical that Fallon was about to announce a run again.

Fallon served 14 years in the state legislature. He ran for governor once and lost. He ran for congress once and lost, failing to get his party’s nomination either time.

Fallon now makes his living doing an internet-based talk show, which, in theory, he would have to give up if he ran for office (unless he would give equal time to his opponents). None of that matters, though, because we now know what Fallon is planning.

Here’s his email update:

I’ve been involved with a lot of campaigns over the years. It’s time for another. This campaign will be the most difficult. It will be the most expensive. And it will be one of the two longest campaigns I’ve ever run.

But it will not be a campaign for public office.

This is a campaign to mobilize 1000 people to march coast-to-coast, demanding action on climate change – action from both the American people and from our public officials. The Great March for Climate Action will set-out from the west coast one year from today and arrive in Washington, DC the weekend before the mid-term election. It will be the largest coast-to-coast march in our nation’s history.


For a long time, I’ve recognized that climate change is not simply an issue. Climate change is a crisis, possibly the deadliest crisis humanity has ever faced. And it’s not a crisis that might happen somewhere in the future. It is a crisis that is happening now!

For the past six years, I’ve asked myself what I should do? What’s my duty, my responsibility in this crisis? What do I have to offer that can help avert the calamity barreling our way like a coal-fired freight train?

I discuss climate change on my talk show regularly, and I continue to live more and more sustainably in my personal life. But honestly, I don’t feel I’ve come close to doing enough, to doing my part. There are certainly people and organizations who have, like Bill McKibben, James Hansen, the Sierra Club, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Iowa’s own State Senator Rob Hogg.

But it is past time for me to step up to the plate in a focused and significant way. Again, this is a CRISIS!

Two weeks ago, the idea of this March came to me, and as I thought about it and talked about it with a few close friends, I realized it was the campaign I needed to commit myself to.

Why a March? Throughout history, marches have been powerful tools to mobilize people – physically, spiritually, and politically. In 1930, Mahatma Gandhi led the 240-mile Salt March to defy Britain’s imperial power. In 1965, Martin Luther King, Jr led the five-day march for voting rights from Selma to Montgomery. And in 1986, the Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament left Los Angeles on March 1st, traveling 3700 miles to finish in Washington, DC on November 15th.



I was very involved in the Great Peace March, coordinating logistics for the Iowa segment. It was an incredible experience, changing the hearts and lives of those of us who participated. It also influenced tens of thousands of people who interacted with marchers throughout the nine-month journey. One cannot, of course, say that the Great Peace March single-handedly achieved nuclear disarmament. But it was one campaign in a much bigger campaign involving thousands of committed activists who accomplished so much, including a ban on nuclear testing. The bottom line is, the Great Peace March absolutely helped make our world a safer place.


Building on my experience with that, learning from all the other campaigns I’ve run, mobilizing the connections and relationships I’ve developed and nurtured over the years, this Great March for Climate Action is how I can do my part in the collective effort to avert the worst consequences of climate change.

I’m serious when I say this is the most difficult campaign I’ve ever launched. I also believe it is the most important. And I know there is no way I can pull this off on my own. I will need your support, your encouragement, your contacts and connections from across the country. This is a national campaign, appealing to an international audience, addressing a global crisis. It’s an undertaking of massive proportions.

I realize what I am asking 1000 people to do is pretty unreasonable. Put your lives on hold for nine months, maybe even quit your job or drop out of school. March over 3,000 miles across America. Suffer blisters, sore muscles, aching knees. Get drenched by cold spring rains. Feel the sweat stinging your eyes as 95° summer  heat bakes the pavement under your feet. Sleep in a tent on the hard ground, with only a thin layer of plastic between you and the howling elements. 



You know, that sounds like a hard sell. But I’m willing to march, and, I believe there are 1000 more who are willing to go the extra mile, so to speak, to avert the worst outcomes of climate change for ourselves, for the rest of the world, for future generations, and for our planet.

Ed 



Fun with numbers…$14 is also what the Register charges, according to its website, for home delivery of the newspaper from Thursday to Sunday. That also includes digital access. It will cost you $23 bucks, if you want the print and electronic versions 7 days a week.

Here is part of the governor’s fundraising email:

Dear Friends,

You probably haven’t noticed, but buried deep in The Des Moines Register, they are waging a campaign against the governor, trying to force his hand into expanding Medicaid. They do this without a care in the world as to where the extra hundreds of millions of dollars would come from, and taking no issue with the fact that this government program fails to make those it covers healthier.

In fact, they have written 14 editorials on Medicaid expansion – just since January 22! Quite an obsession.

It’s time to fight back.

Will you donate $14 to battle their vicious smears? That’s just one dollar for every editorial they’ve written attacking this governor.

I just read an article from National Geographic on “The 10 Best BBQ Joints in America”. No Iowa eatery made the list. The closest was Arthur Bryant’s in Kansas City. I haven’t been there in a while, but I do agree that had really good bbq. Where’s your favorite bbq place in Iowa? Woody’s, Jethro’s, Uncle Wendell’s, Hickory Park and Cactus Bob’s are probably among the favorites among my work crew. Obviously for us, it helps to be close to the station, so admittedly, that does limit us.

If Iowa had its own top 10 barbecue joints list, what places should be on it?

Now that we know 1st District Congressman Bruce Braley will run for senate, attention turns to which Democrat wants to replace Braley. Count Olson among those interested. And he said he and Harkin discussed the possibility when they talked about Olson becoming party chair. Olson told me his talk with Harkin addressed his future, which “may include a run for congress.” Although, the conversation also included Olson running for governor, too. Pretty sure, he won’t do both. But as he seriously looks at both, it could mean he and Harkin will need to have another conversation.

(Photo courtesy: Bruce Braley Facebook page–the Braleys and the Harkins)

That was quick. Democrat Tom Harkin announced a week-and-a-half ago he wouldn’t run for another term in the U.S. Senate when his fifth term expires in 2014. His party already has a replacement. Bruce Braley said Thursday he wants the job. Voters just re-elected Braley to his fourth term in the U.S. House back in November. But by announcing this early, Braley can scare off any other Democrats who were also thinking about running. Not sure whom those people were, though. Senator Harkin told me Sunday Braley was the only one who contacted him about running. And Thursday afternoon State Party Chair Tyler Olson said he, too, spoke to no other Democrat about the job.

Braley’s announcement will be a drawn-out affair. He broke the news in an email to supporters, followed by Twitter and Facebook messages. His Facebook posts promise future “chats” with supporters with details to be announced “soon”. But as of yet, there are no officials plans for a traditional statewide announcement tour.

Republicans, it sounds like it’s now up to you for your candidate? Congressmen Tom Latham and Steve King remain the two biggest named possibilities. A Latham staffer said Latham and King still haven’t sat down for a talk about their futures, although, they did run into each other at the Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball game in Ames last Saturday. If both men should run, that could lead to a costly primary for Republicans.

House Speaker Kraig Paulsen didn’t deny interest in Braley’s 1st District House seat Thursday. Although, he didn’t confirm interest either. He said, “I’m focused on being speaker of the house right now.” Senate Minority Leader Bill Dix said he isn’t interested in either a U.S. Senate run or a U.S. House. Although, Dix added that redistricting means he doesn’t actually live in the 1st District any more.

(My pre-Super Bowl grill full of chicken wings smothered in Dad’s secret barbecue sauce)

Chicken wings, spare ribs and pork chops…I have leftovers of all of them in my fridge right now. And I probably consumed 2 pounds of meat at our Super Bowl party at the station Sunday all by myself, or at least it feels that way! But, no, I’m not meat-ed out today. Far from it. I actually welcomed this email today, probably because my family could eat bacon every day. We could probably eat it every meal! So here’s something to ruin your concentration at your desk today as you think about your next bite…

DMACC CULINARY STUDENTS TO COOK 6,500 POUNDS OF BACON

WHO:             Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Culinary students will cook almost 3 tons of bacon to be served at the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival.

WHAT:           DMACC students will be using 24 conventional ovens and hundreds of extra-large cookie sheets to fill the Ankeny campus with the smells of sizzling bacon. DMACC students will cook more than 3 tons of bacon from all over the world; Denver, Kansas City and Reykjavik, Iceland. Local bacon from Des Moines, Iowa Falls and Webster City will also be baked by the DMACC students.

WHEN:           Fri., Feb. 8, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE:        Iowa Culinary Institute (ICI)

                        Bldg. #7 DMACC Ankeny Campus

 WHY:              The bacon will be served at 6th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival bacon showcase. The showcase is a chance for participants to sample several bacon brands. The Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival is Sat., Feb. 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The event is sold out.

Latham, the 3rd District Congressman, who is best (or at least good) buddies with U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner, would represent the “establishment” wing of the party. King, the 4th District Congressman, would give the voice to the Tea Party and social conservative wing of the party. King said his decision on whether to run won’t depend on what Latham does. Latham hasn’t talked for himself yet. But his spokesman said something similar to King…that Latham’s decision will be independent of any decisions made by any other Republican. Cue Tom Petty…”I won’t back down…”

Sure, it’s fun for the media to speculate about this battle. And why not? This would be the first contest with an open Iowa U.S. senate seat since 1974. Both men becoming candidates would risk a lot for their party. The party could end up losing both seats, probably more likely with Latham’s seat than King’s, since King’s seat is heavier Republican than Latham. No way Republicans would want to see that. I don’t think neither Latham nor King would want that either. 

But while all the speculation/hyperventilation focuses on these two men, let’s be honest, neither one may run. And that’s a real possibility. 

King–Can we win a statewide election? King himself told me that he didn’t know. King wins in his heavily Republican district and wins easily in previous elections. Just ask former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack. Her name and money connections failed to even make her 2012 race against King close. But campaigning outside of western Iowa is far different for King. King’s comments in the past make him a far more controversial candidate than Latham, who uses more measured words. Now, that, of course is what makes some conservatives revere King for telling it how he thinks it is. But King’s words also make him a constantly moving target for liberals. I’ve spoken with Republicans who say some early polling reflects that and calls into question whether King could actually win outside his district and carry the state.

In the end…it’s hard to see King risking his relatively safe congressional seat if polling shows he would be a long shot to win the senate seat against someone like likely Democratic candidate, 1st District Congressman Bruce Braley. 

Latham–He, too, has had comfortable elections over his career, despite moving around the state as redistricting changed the congressional boundaries. Latham has now represented the 3rd, 4th and 5th congressional districts. 

He barely broke a sweat in the final results as he easily beat back 3rd District Democratic Congressman Leonard Boswell in 2012. And that was supposed to be Latham’s most difficult challenge in years. Latham, unlike King, and despite this being his 10th term in congress, isn’t one for the headlines. You won’t likely see him on Fox News. For that matter, you don’t see much of him on the local news. He’s not one to sponsor many high-profile bills. His career has been largely based on a lack of controversy and calls for bipartisanship. 

Latham who will turn 65 this summer, is a year older than King. Many Republicans I talk with think he would be their party’s best chance to capture the senate seat. But does he at this point in his career want to mount the effort of a statewide campaign? Is it something his family would want him to do?

Again, no guarantees. And in the end, if he/his family lack the desire to do this, it’s hard to see him running, no matter what some Republicans may want to see. 

Of course, I could be wrong. Maybe both men will decide to run. And that primary for the ages could still happen. Then, maybe that pay-per-view idea could work. Maybe we could use it to pay down the national debt. That might be something that could unite both parties. 

But Thursday Grassley questioned on CNN how far the plan goes…would it stop a father from selling a gun to his son? Does the government need to track that type of information? He would rather see the feds work better with the states to make sure all pertinent information gets entered into existing database, rather than expanding something that he feels isn’t working so great.

BLOWN OVER–I have resisted the idea of buying a snow blower in the past. My family never had one growing up in Illinois. Sure, we had big snowfalls there. But we never bought a snow blower. I’m sure my mom’s logic was the same as her line of thinking on why we never had a dishwasher. When someone would ask her, she would say, “Why would I buy another dishwasher? I already have four of them.” I’m sure she thought that was funny. My two brothers, sister and I who made up the unhappy dishwashing foursome never found her story very humorous.

After shoveling my driveway Wednesday of the six inches or so from this latest storm, I must say I’m thinking about putting mom’s advice aside. It might be time for a snow blower. Besides, my son is only 2 1/2. And it takes him so long to shovel the driveway when all he has is that little plastic sand shovel from the beach:)

Any recommendations on a good snow blower to buy?

As the ambulance drove away, onlookers wondered, what was going on? As it turned out, the ticker is fine. But the pain Roederer felt was very real. It was another attack of kidney stones. If you’ve never had them, consider yourself lucky. According to he National Kidney Foundation, Roederer fits two unfortunate profiles: he is a man and he is white. Kidney stones, for whatever reason, seem to hit white men the hardest. And they send more than 500,000 people to the emergency room every year. 

Roederer was released from the hospital by the afternoon and can look forward to returning to work to deal with the normal discomfort he’s used to…politicians. 

Harkin already has nearly $3 million in the bank. This Gaga concert cost a minimum 1500 bucks to get in as part of this Harkin fundraiser package, although you could buy pricier seats. The cost gets you a ticket to her concert and a VIP pass. 

Since Harkin announced he will retire, the fundraiser is cancelled, right? Not sure. Harkin’s office said today that decision hasn’t been made yet. You will have to wait a bit longer for an answer on this one, little monsters.  

Now, King considers another higher office. He told me he had been considering a run for U.S. Senate before Tom Harkin surprised many last Saturday when the Democrat announced his fifth term that expires in 2014 would be his last.

King said he happened to be on-line answering emails Saturday morning when a trusted adviser sent him a message about Harkin’s retirement announcement. The news caught King off-guard, but he trusted it because he trusted the well-connected adviser who had emailed. Since then, King said the emails and calls to his two cell phones have almost been constant (except, he said, they did slow down Sunday, which he appreciated. King tries to keep Sundays for his family).

King said “serious” is a fair way to characterize his interest in risking his relatively safe congressional seat for a shot at a statewide run for senate. “Anybody that’s serving in the house of representatives would be foolish not to look at this,” King said.

King has heard the concerns his spoken words made for conservative ears won’t be what Iowans, particularly moderate Republicans and Independents, want to hear outside of his home district. “Is the support there? I don’t know at this point,” King admitted.

“I want to look at this and weigh it. I’ve made no decisions. My needle is exactly right in the middle as far as yes or no,” King said. “Part of it is to gauge the support that’s out there and take a look at what it takes to put together a statewide campaign and the resources necessary to do that.” King figured it would take “north of $15 million” to mount his campaign, a figure that he said doesn’t scare him off.

If money won’t stop him, King said he has to figure out if anything else will. Support, as he mentioned, will be key to measure. “If it doesn’t come together…if I come to the conclusion that the hill’s too steep, for example, or too high,” King said. One thing he said that will not stop him is whether fellow Republican, 3rd District Congressman Tom Latham, decides to run. Latham already moved once for King. Latham left Ames for the 2012 election because redistricting following the 2010 census would have put him in the same newly drawn district as King. Latham moved to Clive, so he could take on Democratic Congressman Leonard Boswell, a man he would end up beating soundly for the job.

Republicans fear King and Latham would both want to run for the senate and have a long, expensive primary battle for the nomination, which could risk both of their congressional seats for the party, with no guarantees either man would take the senate seat. King hears those fears. King said he and Latham haven’t had a chance to talk about what’s ahead. He said he would get that chance when both men return to Washington next week. “The first thing is for Congressman Latham and I to have our own personal conversation.”

King said the two men have a “good friendship and good relationship and make good decisions together.” He doesn’t expect to figure out his plans right away. King told me, ‘It won’t be days. It will be weeks.”

In the end, King said he decision on whether to run will come down to timing and his feeling for the requirements ahead. He said, “This decision has to be right in the head, the heart and the gut. It needs to be a calling.”

That calling for King means a call from above. Meanwhile, he will be doing plenty of calling on his own to see if enough Iowans think he is the answer to their next senator in Washington.

Here’s Braley’s statement about a senate candidacy:

“Over the past 24 hours, I’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of encouragement and support from Iowans in every corner of the state urging me to consider a campaign for the U.S. Senate in 2014. Iowans deserve a Senator who will continue Tom Harkin’s legacy of strengthening the middle class and standing up for Iowans who don’t have a voice. While Senator Harkin’s shoes are impossible to fill, over the coming days my family and I will carefully weigh a possible candidacy for Senate.”