U.S. Senate nominee Mike Franken speaks concerning the financial system throughout his closing cease on his “Safe Our Future” tour at Kirkwood Neighborhood School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

As Iowa’s surprisingly shut U.S. Senate race takes its closing lap, the distinction is stark.

Retired Admiral Mike Franken made his closing argument Tuesday night in Cedar Rapids in a mid-sized room in Iowa Corridor at Kirkwood Neighborhood School. The Democrat spoke to round 80 supporters, first asking what number of lecturers, medical staff and veterans have been within the room. Fingers shot up.

It lacked the electrical energy you would possibly anticipate from a homestretch marketing campaign occasion for a candidate with the potential to do the unthinkable. Particularly deny Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley an eighth time period within the Senate. Perhaps it’s the truth that most individuals within the room had already voted. Perhaps it’s as a result of Democrats don’t need to get their hopes up after so many unhealthy elections.

However this has been no strange Senate marketing campaign. Franken has formed his run with out “assist” from nationwide Democrats, their bucks and threadbare messaging. Perhaps the Iowa Ballot displaying him inside 3 proportion factors of Grassley is idiot’s gold. Or perhaps Franken’s subdued confidence he can win relies on one thing actual.

“We’re sturdy. We glance out for our neighbors. We defend democracy,” Franken mentioned. “We deserve a robust, clear voice.”

Tonight, Grassley is about to seem with former president Donald Trump at a rally in Sioux Metropolis. It’s sure to be massive and loud. The music will likely be pumping. The cameras will likely be rolling. Trump’s distortions, conspiracies and outright lies will stack up like firewood able to be set ablaze.

Grassley doubtless will likely be on stage with the man who lied a few stolen election, despatched his supporters to march on the U.S. Capitol and allowed the mob to assault cops, vandalize our seat of presidency and threaten lawmakers and his vice chairman for 187 minutes. Trump’s aim was stopping the certification of an American presidential election.

Within the quick aftermath, Grassley referred to as it “an assault on democracy itself.” Now, he insists we don’t care about Jan. 6. Nothing to see right here.

As soon as seen as a rock-solid senator with an unbiased streak, Grassley has proved to be simply one other partisan, GOP climate vane. He labored on well being care reform, however then pivoted amid Tea Social gathering agitation to say the hassle would result in demise panels that might “pull the plug on grandma.”

His actions on the Judiciary Committee to disclaim Barack Obama a Supreme Court docket nominee and assist Donald Trump pack the courts, resulting in the overturning of Roe v. Wade, are well-known. Earlier this yr Grassley claimed the IRS would rent new armed brokers who would threaten Individuals.

However ultimately, if Grassley loses, it might merely be as a result of he tried to remain too lengthy. Iowans might resolve seven phrases is sufficient. “We deserve one thing aside from a senator for all times…,” Franken mentioned.

Franken talked a few “new future for the state of Iowa.” But when he wins it might be as a result of Iowans need to return to a saner model of politics which existed not that way back. Again when carnival barkers spewing outrage and their lackeys didn’t command middle stage.

However that’s most likely an excessive amount of to ask. Iowa is crimson now. Grassley doubtless will survive Franken’s problem. Or perhaps considerate Iowans will do the unthinkable.

(319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com