Grassley to run again in 2010: Is a matchup against Vilsack looming?

Yesterday, on the taping of Iowa Press Republican Sen. Charles Grassley announced that he will run for reelection to the Senate in 2010. Grassley, who is 73, cited his senority and power that comes with it as the reasons why he would seek reelection.

From KCCI...

The 73-year-old Iowa Republican said he will seek a sixth term when he comes up for re-election in 2010. Grassley said with his seniority, he's worth more to his employer -- the people of Iowa -- than he was before.

He's the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee and plays a key role in budget decisions despite Democratic control of the Senate.

With a new farm bill in the works and lawmakers looking to tackle issues such as Medicare and Social Security, Grassley said his seniority can be crucial. Grassley has held elective office in Iowa continuously since 1956, serving in the Iowa Legislature and then moving to the U.S. House in 1974.

I am a little surprised Grassley is planning on running for reelection. I know someone who worked on his last campaign that said they didn't he would run again.

This week at our county Democratic Central Committee, we discussed Grassley running in 2010 and it was brought up that maybe Pat Grassley, a first term State Rep, might run for his dad's grandpa's seat. That would be an interesting move, but with a possible race against former Gov. Tom Vilsack, it probably isn't one that Republicans would want to make.

A Charles Grassley vs Tom Vilsack matchup would probably be one of the biggest Senate races in 2010.