Democratic Senator Harkin will not seek re-election: aide

[cali]

(Reuters) - Democratic Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa said on Saturday he will not seek re-election in 2014, saying he felt that after 40 years in Congress, it will be "somebody else's turn."

Harkin, 73, is one of the most liberal senators and has focused much of his long congressional career on farm policy and legislation aiding people with disabilities.

Iowa, site of the early presidential caucuses, is considered a political swing state, putting Democrats' long-held Senate seat at risk. Republican Charles Grassley is Iowa's other U.S. senator.

"I don't by any means plan to retire completely from public life at the end of this Congress," Harkin said in a statement. "But I am going to make way for someone new in this Senate seat. I think that is right not just for me, but for Iowa, as well."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/26/us-usa-politics-harkin-idUSBRE90P0F120130126

[rurallib]

1. This Iowan loves his senator and really hates to see him go.

I hope we can replace him with a good liberal.

[bigdarryl]

2. It cracks me up that when one of our Senators or Congressman retire

The media Automatically predicts that it will be hard for the democrats to hold that seat.We don't even know who will run for his seat yet.