Tom Harkin’s indelible impression is apparent across Iowa and America. Just ask anyone in a wheelchair. Or anyone fueling up a vehicle. Or anyone planting American crops or eating American food.

Harkin’s enduring impressions are evident in the stronger American farm economy, higher grain prices and a diminished reliance on production subsidies. His work makes it easier for disabled people to live, learn and earn, which also strengthen’s our country and economy.

His seniority gives Iowans the most influential voice in agriculture since Harkin chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee.

His seniority gives Iowans a front-row voice in health care reform since he’s a senior member on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Harkin owes that influence to Iowans, who have returned him to the Senate for four terms.

We heartily endorse him for a fifth.

Democrat Tom Harkin would have our endorsement for a fifth term in the U.S. Senate if for no other reason than for how he was able to keep his cool after the insultingly bizarre pronouncements of his Republican opponent, Christopher Reed of Marion, in Thursday’s televised debate. But Harkin has our endorsement -as he did in 1984, 1990 and 1996 – because he has proven to be an effective lawmaker who looks out for Iowa’s best interests even as he plays a powerful role on the national stage.

Six years ago, we did decide to endorse Harkin’s Republican opponent, then Rep. Greg Ganske of Des Moines. We did so knowing the risk involved with replacing the power of a senior senator with the sometimes lone vote of a freshman. But we were gambling on the type of senator we thought Ganske could be in the future.

This year, we’re downright fearful of the type of senator that Reed could become.

For us, U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin always has been something of an enigma.

We don’t support many of his viewpoints, especially those on the far left. Yet, we can’t quarrel with the senator’s commitment to projects that can and do make a difference in Iowa. Whether by finding federal dollars to help establish community health centers, investing in communities and businesses, helping fix schools in need of repair or acquiring funds for local law enforcement, Harkin looks out for the folks back home. Sioux Cityans can thank Harkin for his efforts on behalf of the Perry Creek flood control project.

Harkin, a Democrat, and fellow Iowa Republican Sen. Charles Grassley are two of the strongest voices in their chamber. Having two such well-connected, high-ranking and influential senators clearly is good for this state.

In the end, Harkin’s experience and commitment to Iowa makes him a better candidate than Republican challenger Chris Reed, who has never run for or held public office. That’s why today the Journal endorses Harkin’s bid to retain his Senate seat.

The conundrum in national politics is that you have to be in office for a long time to win coveted leadership positions and chair committees, where you can really direct the national agenda.

But the more time spent among the Washington elite, the more constituents back home feel a sense of disconnect with their elected representatives. It’s a legitimate concern.

Tom Harkin, however, has deftly been able to remain a down-home Iowan while spending more than three decades shuttling back and forth to Washington. Iowans should give him another six years to work on their behalf in the United States Senate.

Harkin of Cumming is a lock to win his fifth six-year-term over political novice Christopher Reed, a Solon businessman who has never held any public office.

The World-Herald has tended to endorse moderate conservatives in Iowa’s U.S. Senate contests. But this year, The World-Herald is voicing support for incumbent Sen. Tom Harkin as he seeks a fifth term.

This newspaper has great differences with the senator’s liberal take on economic policy and government activism in general. But this newspaper also regards it as fundamental that Midlanders need to elect U.S. senators with the necessary heft for the job.

In the 2008 Senate contest, Harkin demonstrates that gravitas. His conservative Republican opponent does not.

Iowans should without hesitation cast their ballots to return Democrat Tom Harkin for his fifth term in the U.S. Senate. With that investment in seniority, however, comes heightened expectations for him to lead in shaping landmark legislation that will benefit Iowans and the nation for decades to come.

Harkin, 68, of Cumming already ranks in the top fifth of senators in seniority. He chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, a powerful role that he’s used to nurture Iowa’s biofuels industry. And he ranks third in seniority on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, putting him in position to mold a new president’s proposals to reform health care and education policy. Advertisement

Most election campaigns to determine Northeast Iowans’ federal lawmakers have been spirited affairs. However, this year’s elections for seats in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate are exceptions.

Perhaps the biggest surprise for many voters is that Democrats Bruce Braley and Tom Harkin have Republican opponents. Little has been seen of or heard from David Hartsuch and Christopher Reed this campaign.

Though the GOP might try to argue otherwise, dollars speak louder than words. Party leadership’s involvement and support say more than rhetoric. The Republicans are saying that they are conceding these seats to the Democrats.

Reed, who opposes Harkin’s re-election to a fifth six-year term in the Senate, says that from his experience as a prep wrestler he learned, “I have to fight my own battles.” Good thing, because he is essentially fighting Harkin on his own.

For 34 years, Tom Harkin has served Iowans in Washington, D.C. as either a five-term congressman from the state’s fifth district or as the four-term U.S. senator.

He now seeks a fifth term in the Senate, hoping to continue working on a host of issues he believes are important to Iowans.

As chairman of the Senate Ag Committee, Harkin has worked hard at creating a Farm Bill that is much more than ag subsidies. Harkin, for example, wants to reward farmers who practice conservation.

Harkin is also a champion of renewable energy, biofuels, bio-based products and energy efficiency efforts and his support of continued growth in these areas will benefit Iowans in the years to come.

The race for one of Iowa’s U.S. Senate seats pits a four-term incumbent against a young upstart. The challenger, Republican Chris Reed, is bright and motivated. We’re impressed with his enthusiasm, but without reservation we’re throwing our support behind Democrat Sen. Tom Harkin.

Harkin, because of his experience and leadership in the Senate, is uniquely qualified to help steer the United States through these uncertain times. He is chairman of the committee that drafts the farm bill, a vital piece of legislation that sets farm and food policy for the U.S. and distributes billions in subsidies across the nation. Who better to lead that team than an Iowan who is an experienced Washington hand?

Read the origination story at The Des Moines Register

Iowa’s recent natural disasters are connected to global climate change, former Vice President Al Gore said in a speech at the state Democratic Party’s annual fall fundraiser Saturday.

Gore was the keynote speaker at the 2008 Jefferson Jackson Dinner at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.

Gore, a former U.S. senator from Tennessee, lost the presidential election to George W. Bush in 2000. Last year, he won a Nobel Peace Prize for his effort to tackle global climate change.