Updated: 16 February 2013 | 6:30 am in conversations
Tom Vilsack decides not to run for Senate seat: Your views
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Tom Vilsack won’t run to replace U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin in 2014, longtime Vilsack aide Matt Paul said Friday.
But the current U.S. Agriculture secretary and former Iowa governor did not rule out a future run for elective office.
Vilsack, 62, was seen as a likely frontrunner if he chose to enter the race to succeed U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, who announced last month that he would not seek re-election to the Senate seat he has held since 1985.
How do you feel about Vilsack’s decision?
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Tom Vilsack decides not to run for Senate seat: Your views
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I could support either Tom Vilsack or Bruce Braley for the Senate. If I had to make a choice, it would be a close call. For me, Braley’s younger age and legislative experience in Washington give him a slight edge.
I’m most pleased that the Democrats will, most likely, unite around one candidate and avoid an internal battle. We’ll get our entertainment from watching the internal battle in the other party.
I’m disappointed that Secretary Vilsack will not be running for Senate, but I understand that he believes his interests lie elsewhere.
I still think Culver would be a better choice for the position than Braley or anyone the Republicans bring to the table. But I bet Culver’s electability does not poll as well as Braley’s at this moment in history.
Vilsack would probably poll statewide better than Braley. I won’t vote for either.
Tom Will run for Grassleys seat in 2016, Grassley will announce his retirement in 2015