Harkin Hires Staff for 08 Re-election

Last week, the rumors were that Tom Harkin was not going to run for re-election and Tom Vilsack was going to step in. Jane Norman of the Des Moines Register writes that Harkin has hired some staff and has been raising money for re-election. Norman writes...

In case you harbored any eensy-weensy shred of doubt that Sen. Tom Harkin is running for re-election, word comes that he has hired veteran Democratic operative Jeff Link as his general consultant for the 2008 campaign.

Matt Paul, who works for Link as vice president for public affairs at the Des Moines political consulting firm Link Strategies, said that a strong organization and campaign staff for Harkin is being put together.

"The senator is actively raising resources, and is energized, and looks forward to the campaign," said Paul, a former aide to former Gov. Tom Vilsack.

Translation: Harkin is out and about raising money like crazy and issuing blizzards of news releases, even if no prominent Republican appears ready to announce a challenge to the four-term senator. He's also looking to secure the hard-working 20-somethings not already scooped up by presidential campaigns.

I hope that Harkin does run. He is a strong voice in the Senate and holds an important position as Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. As for Vilsack, I hope he has his eyes on running against Grassley in 2010.