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ON STATEWIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS THE FRIDAY, JULY 19 EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS." HERE IS DEAN BORG.

Borg: IOWA'S TWO HIGH-PROFILE CAMPAIGNS ARE UNDERSTANDABLY GETTING MOST OF THE MIDSUMMER CAMPAIGN ATTENTION RIGHT NOW. IN THE U.S. SENATE RACE, INCUMBENT TOM HARKIN, A DEMOCRAT, IS MATCHED AGAINST REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN GREG GANSKE. SENATOR HARKIN SEEKING A FOURTH SIX-YEAR TERM. IN THE RUN FOR GOVERNOR, TOM VILSACK, THE DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT, SEEKS A SECOND FOUR-YEAR TERM, AND HE'S CHALLENGED BY REPUBLICAN DOUG GROSS. ALTHOUGH, AS I SAID, THOSE RACES ARE GETTING MOST OF THE ATTENTION RIGHT NOW, THERE'S LOTS MORE. ALL FIVE OF IOWA'S SEATS IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ARE ON THE BALLOT. AND AT THE IOWA STATEHOUSE, 35 OF THE 50 STATE SENATE SEATS ARE ON THE BALLOT, AS ARE ALL 100 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE ELECTIONS FOR THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE IOWA HOUSE, AND THE IOWA SENATE NOW ARE ALL IN NEWLY RECONFIGURED DISTRICTS REFLECTING THE 2000 CENSUS. AND IN THOSE INSTANCES, THE CANDIDATES MUST BE APPEALING RIGHT NOW TO AT LEAST SOME, IF NOT ALL, NEW CONSTITUENTS. SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE CURRENT SCORECARD. IN THE U.S. SENATE, DEMOCRATS HAVE A 50-TO-49 EDGE OVER REPUBLICANS, 1 INDEPENDENT. IOWA HAS ONE DEMOCRAT AND ONE REPUBLICAN IN THE U.S. SENATE. IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, REPUBLICANS HAVE AN 11-VOTE ADVANTAGE OVER THE DEMOCRATS, 2 INDEPENDENTS. IOWA HAS FOUR REPUBLICANS AND ONE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN. AND WHILE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS SPLIT CONTROL OF CONGRESS, AT THE IOWA STATEHOUSE IN DES MOINES, REPUBLICANS CONTROL BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE IOWA GENERAL ASSEMBLY. IN THE IOWA SENATE, THE MARGIN IS 8, AS THE G.O.P. LEAD THE DEMOCRATS 29 TO 21. THIRTY-FIVE, AS I SAID, STATE SENATE DISTRICTS ARE UP FOR ELECTION THIS TIME. IN THE IOWA HOUSE, THE REPUBLICAN MARGIN IS 12, AND ALL OF THOSE SEATS ARE UP FOR ELECTION. WELL, TODAY ON "IOWA PRESS," WITH THE HELP OF TWO POLITICAL VETERANS, WE'LL GET INSIDE THE CAMPAIGN OF 2002. REPUBLICAN MIKE MAHAFFEY IS A MONTEZUMA ATTORNEY. HE'S FORMER CHAIR OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF IOWA AND ONCE RAN FOR CONGRESS HIMSELF. DEMOCRAT JERRY CRAWFORD, AN ATTORNEY FROM DES MOINES, IS THE FORMER POLK COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR, AND HE WORKED IN THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS OF WALTER MONDALE, MIKE DUKAKIS, BILL CLINTON, AND AL GORE. GENTLEMEN, WE'RE ANXIOUS TO GET INSIDE THE CAMPAIGN AND DRAW ON THAT INSIGHT AND EXPERIENCE. AND ACROSS THE TABLE, TWO POLITICAL WRITERS THAT YOU KNOW WELL: "DES MOINES REGISTER" POLITICAL COLUMNIST DAVID YEPSEN AND "ASSOCIATED PRESS" POLITICAL REPORTER MIKE GLOVER.

Glover: MR. MAHAFFEY, LET'S START WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ELECTION. A LOT OF US ON THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE THINK THE GOVERNOR'S ELECTION IS PRETTY COMPETITIVE, PRETTY INTERESTING, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO WIN. HANDICAP THAT RACE FOR ME.

Mahaffey: WELL, I'D AGREE WITH THE FACT THAT IT'S PRETTY COMPETITIVE AND PRETTY INTERESTING. AND AT THIS POINT, I'M NOT SURE WE DO KNOW WHO'S GOING TO WIN. EVERYTHING THAT I HEAR ABOUT THAT, STARTING WITH THE POLL IN "THE REGISTER" AND TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE, IS THAT ALL THE POLLS ON BOTH SIDES SHOW IT'S A VERY CLOSE RACE. SOME OF THEM I THINK HAVE DOUG GROSS EVEN UP A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS. I THINK IT'S A VERY INTERESTING RACE AND BOTH CANDIDATES ARE VERY INTERESTING CANDIDATES. DOUG GROSS, TOM VILSACK: SMART, ARTICULATE, TOUGH. WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN, YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO JULY 4, A BARRAGE OF ADS THAT WE NORMALLY DON'T SEE TILL CLOSER TO THE ELECTION. I THINK IT'S A RACE THAT'S GOING TO GO DOWN TO THE WIRE. AND I THINK IT'S ALSO A RACE, VERY HONESTLY, WHERE WE COULD HAVE A VERY INTERESTING POLITICAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THIS STATE, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED IN THE STATE OF IOWA.

Glover: MR. CRAWFORD, IF I COULD RELAY THE STORY, I WAS TALKING TO FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER BRENT SIEGRIST, WHO TOOK A FEW DAYS OFF AFTER HE LOST THE CONGRESSIONAL RACE OUT IN WESTERN IOWA. HE CAME BACK TO THE STATE AND HE SAID HE WALKED IN HIS HOUSE AND HE TURNED THE TV ON; HE SAID, "I THOUGHT IT WAS OCTOBER." HANDICAP THAT GOVERNOR'S ELECTION FOR US.

Crawford: YEAH, IF I HAD BEEN IN THE PRIMARY HE WAS IN, I WOULD HAVE FELT LIKE IT WAS OCTOBER TOO. I'M SURE THAT HE DID. I THINK THERE ARE TWO THINGS AT WORK IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE. ONE OF THEM IS NATIONAL AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR RACE AT ALL. EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK IN THE COUNTRY, INCUMBENT GOVERNORS HAVE SEEN THEIR APPROVAL RATINGS GO DOWN. WHY? BECAUSE OF THE NATIONAL RECESSION, STATE AFTER STATE -- IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE GOVERNOR IS DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, HE'S FACING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT. IN ALL OF THESE GOVERNOR'S RACES, IN IOWA AND NATIONALLY, THE GOVERNORS ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING, ESSENTIALLY, AGAINST THEMSELVES. THE PUBLIC HASN'T ENGAGED YET TO COMPARE THE TWO CANDIDATES, BUT THEY DO KNOW THAT IN ALL THE STATES IN OUR COUNTRY, THERE'S BUDGET DIFFICULTY. CLOSER TO HOME, I THINK THAT I AGREE COMPLETELY WITH WHAT MR. MAHAFFEY SAID. WE HAVE TWO INCREDIBLY BRIGHT, FOCUSED, TOUGH CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR. AND SO IT DOES MAKE FOR THE POTENTIAL FOR A GOOD MATCHUP.

Yepsen: WELL, JERRY, WHAT DOES YOUR FRIEND TOM VILSACK HAVE TO DO HERE? I MEAN THE REALITY IS HE'S AT 43 PERCENT. DOUG GROSS IS AT 41 PERCENT. THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IS WHENEVER YOU GET AN INCUMBENT AT OR BELOW 50 PERCENT, THEY'RE IN REAL TROUBLE. ONLY ONE OTHER DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR IN THE COUNTRY IS IN THAT SAD OF SHAPE, JIM HODGES OF SOUTH CAROLINA. SO WHAT DOES TOM VILSACK HAVE TO DO TO WIN THIS THING?

Crawford: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T AGREE WITH YOUR ASSESSMENT ABOUT -- RELATIVE TO OTHER GOVERNORS' RACES --

Yepsen: WELL, I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT POLLS HERE.

Crawford: WELL, JOHN ROLAND, THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUT, WHO IS THE HEAD OF REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS, WAS JUST IN IDAHO THIS WEEK, LISTED THE FOUR GOVERNORS THEY THINK THEY HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF DEFEATING, AND TOM VILSACK WAS NOT ON THE LIST. BUT PUTTING THAT ASIDE --

Mahaffey: GRAY DAVIS, I THINK, IS DOWN, LIKE, 8 OR 9 PERCENTAGE POINTS.

Crawford: ALL OVER THE LOT IN THOSE POLLS. AND THAT'S WHAT I EXPECT TO CONTINUE TO BE SEEN IN THE POLLING DATA. DAVID, I THINK THAT ONE THING THAT WILL HELP TOM VILSACK ENORMOUSLY IS THIS EMERGING -- YOU MIGHT ALMOST SAY "EXPLODING" ISSUE ON THE NATIONAL SCENE OF FINANCIAL IRREGULARITY IN OUR MARKETPLACE. AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A VERY COMPELLING CONTRAST AS THIS ELECTION DOES GET FOCUSED ON. IF YOU RECALL, BACK IN 1989 TIME FRAME, THE STATE OF IOWA, ACCORDING TO PRICE WATERHOUSE AND ACCORDING TO THE REPUBLICAN AUDITOR, RICHARD JOHNSON, WAS ENGAGED IN CHEAP FINANCIAL TRICKS, WAS THE TERM THAT WAS USED, IN PUTTING THE BUDGET TOGETHER. WE HAD A $262-MILLION DEFICIT, ACCORDING TO PRICE WATERHOUSE, THAT WAS MASKED BY TERRY BRANSTAD AND DOUG GROSS BY PUTTING REVENUES ON THE BOOKS THAT WERE NOT YET ON THE BOOKS AND BY DELAYING EXPENDITURES THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE.

Yepsen: SO IN OTHER WORDS, TOM VILSACK WINS REELECTION BY TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET TWELVE YEARS AGO?

Crawford: WELL, DAVID, BACK IN 1989 YOU WROTE THAT DOUG GROSS WENT THROUGH THAT BUDGET AND PREPARED IT LINE BY LINE BEFORE HE GAVE IT TO TERRY BRANSTAD. AND I THINK ULTIMATELY THE ELECTION COMES DOWN TO WHO DO THE PEOPLE OF IOWA TRUST FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. AND WHEN VILSACK CAN SHOW HE DIDN'T RAISE TAXES, HE DIDN'T ENGAGE IN CHEAP ACCOUNTING TRICKS, IN CONTRAST WITH THAT -- WITH WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE, I THINK THAT BECOMES A KEY PIECE OF THE PUZZLE OF WHO DO IOWANS TRUST.

Yepsen: THAT'S A GOOD COMMERCIAL, JERRY. MR. MAHAFFEY, LET ME FLIP THAT AROUND. I MEAN WHAT DOES DOUG GROSS HAVE TO DO HERE TO RESPOND TO THIS STUFF THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO BE THROWING AT HIM, BUT ALSO TO GET ON OFFENSE HERE AND BEAT TOM VILSACK?

Mahaffey: WELL, I THINK THAT WHAT JERRY IS TALKING ABOUT MAY BE MORE OF A NATIONAL ISSUE. I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH IS GOING TO PLAY IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE. LOOK, THE BIG ISSUE RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY ONE THAT I REALLY THINK IS ON THE RADAR SCREEN IS THE BUDGETARY CRISIS IN IOWA. AND THE WAY THAT TOM VILSACK HAS MANAGED AND CONTINUES TO MANAGE THAT IS GOING TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT HE'S REELECTED. I THINK THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT DOUG GROSS HAS TO CONTINUE TO -- THEY'RE BOTH GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF MONEY. I THINK HE HAS TO ARTICULATE A VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS STATE THAT THE PEOPLE CAN BUY INTO. I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING. IN RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR'S ADS, WE HAVE THIS NEW AD THAT'S BEEN PUT OUT BY THE GROSS CAMPAIGN ABOUT DOUG GROSS BEING FROM MARS. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THAT AD, IT'S VERY CLEVER AND YET HARD HITTING. I THINK IT SUCCEEDS IN HUMANIZING DOUG GROSS, AND I THINK, TO SOME EXTENT, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

Borg: DAVE, I WAS INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU JUST SAID. YOU ASKED THE QUESTION, MIKE; YOU SAID -- YOU SEEMED TO IMPLY THAT DOUG GROSS IS ON THE DEFENSIVE. WHAT DO DOES HE --

Yepsen: WELL, SURE, YOU LOOK AT THE WHOLE DYNAMIC OF THE CAMPAIGN. I MEAN TOM VILSACK KNOWS HE'S IN A TOUGH RACE. RATHER THAN SIT HERE AND PLAY DEFENSE, HE'S GONE ON THE OFFENSE. HE'S ATTACKED DOUG GROSS, AS JERRY MENTIONED, ON PAST ACCOUNTING, WHETHER DOUG GROSS REALLY IS FROM DEFIANCE OR NOT, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING THAT A PENNSYLVANIA-BORN GOVERNOR IS GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT A GUY FROM DEFIANCE THAT WAY.

Mahaffey: WELL, NOW WE KNOW HE'S FROM MARS.

Yepsen: SO THAT'S A GOOD -- YOU KNOW, THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE. I THINK THAT'S WHAT TOM VILSACK IS HAVING TO DO HERE.

Crawford: BUT, DAVID, IT'S NOT, AS MIKE SAYS, A NATIONAL ISSUE. IN THIS MORNING'S PAPER, THE EDITORIAL CARTOON BY DUFFY ON PAGE ONE SAYS THAT IT APPEARS THAT DOUG GROSS IS GETTING HIS INFORMATION FROM ARTHUR ANDERSON IN MAKING THE ARGUMENTS HE'S BEEN MAKING ABOUT VILSACK. HE'S GOT TO BE VERY CAREFUL. THIS ISSUE DID NOT COME FROM DEMOCRATS. THIS ISSUE DID NOT COME FROM TOM VILSACK. IT WAS STEVE SUKUP WHO SAID DOUG GROSS PLAYS FAST AND LOOSE WITH THE TRUTH. IT'S DAVID OMAN, FORMER REPUBLICAN CHAIR AND COLLEAGUE OF DOUG'S IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, WHO SAYS HE'S GOING TO SIT THIS GOVERNOR'S ELECTION OUT. THAT'S WHERE THE ISSUE CAME FROM.

Glover: WELL, LET'S PROJECT AHEAD A LITTLE BIT. WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE BUDGET. RIGHT NOW THE BUDGET SEEMS TO BE DOMINATING EVERYTHING. IS THAT THE ISSUE THAT'S GOING TO BE MOVING VOTERS IN NOVEMBER?

Crawford: NO, I DON'T THINK THAT THE CAMPAIGN WILL BE DECIDED ON THE BUDGET ISSUE, BUT I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE THIS SORTING OUT OF WHO DID WHAT WHEN, WITH REGARD TO THE BUDGET. THAT DEBATE WILL GET RESOLVED AND THEN THIS IS GOING TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION, AND VILSACK WILL TALK ABOUT READING TEST SCORES GOING UP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TEN YEARS. IT WILL FOCUS ON HEALTH CARE. HE'LL TALK ABOUT THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN THAT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE TODAY THAT DIDN'T WHEN HE BECAME GOVERNOR.

Glover: MR. MAHAFFEY, WE WERE TALKING TO DOUG GROSS THE OTHER DAY, AND HE MADE THE CASE THAT HIS CAMPAIGN IS GOING TO BE ABOUT THE BUDGET, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND EDUCATION, AND THAT'S IT. AND I SAID, "WHAT ABOUT SOCIAL ISSUES THAT MOVE A LOT OF VOTERS IN THE STATE?" AND HE SAID, "PEOPLE AREN'T TALKING TO ME ABOUT THAT. IT DOESN'T MATTER." ARE THOSE JUST OFF THE TABLE?

Mahaffey: I THINK HE'S RIGHT. I THINK THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT THOSE ARE THE THREE -- THE THREE KEY ISSUES. I THINK THE BUDGETARY PROBLEM IS STILL GOING TO BE THERE IN OCTOBER AND INTO NOVEMBER. AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT, YOU KNOW, DOUG GROSS HAS DONE SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S VERY INTERESTING. HE HAS SAID LET'S HAVE A SERIES OF OLD-FASHIONED DEBATES, NOT JUST Q AND A'S, BUT OLD-FASHIONED DEBATES, WHERE WE CAN ASK EACH OTHER QUESTIONS AROUND THE STATE, PICK A SPECIFIC TOPIC, AND HAVE FOUR OR FIVE OF THESE DEBATES. I HOPE THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD POLITICAL THEATER AND IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS STATE FOR PEOPLE TO SEE TWO BRIGHT GUYS TALK ABOUT THEIR VISION FOR THE STATE OF IOWA. AND I HOPE THE GOVERNOR WILL SAY YES TO THAT AND WE'LL HAVE SOME OLD-FASHIONED DEBATES.

Yepsen: WELL, ARE WE GOING TO GET A DEBATE ABOUT THE FUTURE, OR IS THIS CAMPAIGN GOING TO BE AN ARGUMENT OVER WHETHER TOM VILSACK SCREWED UP THE BUDGET TWO YEARS AGO OR DOUG GROSS SCREWED IT UP TWELVE YEARS AGO? WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE?

Mahaffey: I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE BOTH. LOOK, WE'RE ALREADY IN THE "YOUR MOTHER WEARS COMBAT BOOTS PHASE" OF THE CAMPAIGN. [ LAUGHTER ] I MEAN, WE'RE JUST THERE. AND, YES, THAT'S RIGHT. BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, THESE TWO GENTLEMEN, I THINK, HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO THE PEOPLE OF IOWA TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE. DOES THAT INCLUDE CRITICISM OF THE PAST IN TERMS OF BOTH OF THEIR RECORDS? YES. BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES TALKING ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE'RE GOING, AND GOD KNOWS WE NEED THAT DISCUSSION IN THE STATE OF IOWA.

Borg: MIKE, I WANT TO ADD ANOTHER ISSUE. I'LL LET YOU GET IN, IN JUST A SECOND, MIKE. BUT THERE'S ANOTHER ISSUE I THINK THAT IS PARAMOUNT IN THIS CAMPAIGN, AT LEAST IN THE ADVERTISING. AS I ATTENDED DOUG GROSS'S -- ONE OF HIS FIRST CAMPAIGN SWINGS WHEN HE CAME OVER TO IOWA CITY, I WAS SURPRISED THAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY. AND ESPECIALLY, HE WAS POINTING OUT IN NORTHWEST IOWA AND AROUND SIOUX CITY, WHAT AN ECONOMIC FORCE THAT IS THERE. NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE'S BEEN PINNED -- OR TOM VILSACK IS TRYING TO PIN HIM WITH TOO MUCH IDENTIFICATION WITH THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY. WAS THAT A TACTICAL ERROR EARLY ON?

Mahaffey: LOOK, THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY IS IMPORTANT TO THE STATE OF IOWA. AGRICULTURE IS STILL A LARGE INDUSTRY IN IOWA AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO. THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES THAT ANY POLITICIAN, REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, HAS TO FACE. WE FACE THAT IN POWESHIEK COUNTY RIGHT NOW, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS WRESTLING WITH SOMETHING. HOW DO YOU -- HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE FACT THAT WE NEED THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE NOW THAT AREN'T FARMERS AND DON'T LIKE THE SMELL AND DON'T LIKE THE CONCENTRATION OF LIVESTOCK IN THEIR AREA? A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION. THE LEGISLATURE DID MAKE, I THINK, A GOOD ATTEMPT, A BIPARTISAN ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THAT THIS YEAR. AND TO SOME EXTENT, WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

Yepsen: JERRY, CAN TOM VILSACK GRAB THE HIGH GROUND ON THE HOG ISSUE WHEN, AS A STATE SENATOR, HE VOTED FOR HOUSE FILE 519 AND WHEN DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES HAVE TAKEN MONEY FROM JACK DECOSTER? I MEAN CAN YOU GUYS REALLY MAKE HAY OUT OF THIS ISSUE?

Crawford: YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK -- THAT WAS KIND OF THE ISSUE IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION WHEN THEY TRIED TO GO AFTER GROSS THAT WAY. I THINK WHAT'S EMERGED IN WEEKS SINCE THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS MORE HOW THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HANDLED. I MEAN SENDING A LETTER TO THE WOMAN, REBECCA KOHL, TRYING TO INTIMIDATE HER INTO NOT SPEAKING OUT -- LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING: DOUG GROSS IS A SHREWD TACTICIAN, AND THAT WAS A MISTAKE.

Yepsen: YEAH. MIKE, WAS THAT PRETTY DUMB FOR THE GROSS FIRM TO DO THAT?

Mahaffey: I WOULDN'T SAY IT WAS ONE OF THE BRIGHTER MOMENTS IN THE CAMPAIGN. I DON'T THINK DOUG GROSS WOULD THINK IT WAS EITHER, BUT THAT'S A PASSING THING. LOOK, STILL, WHEN IT COMES TO THE QUESTION OF HOG CONFINEMENT, I THINK ANY POLITICIAN OF THE STATE, REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, HAS TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT TRYING TO HIT ON THAT ISSUE TOO MUCH BECAUSE IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT ISSUE TO TRY TO --

Glover: MR. CRAWFORD, LET'S GET YOU OFF MESSAGE HERE FOR A SECOND. GIVE ME TOM VILSACK'S BIGGEST WEAKNESS, BIGGEST DANGER FACING THE CAMPAIGN.

Crawford: SAME AS EVERY OTHER INCUMBENT GOVERNOR IN THE COUNTRY, THE BUDGET.

Glover: MR. MAHAFFEY, WHAT'S DOUG GROSS'S BIGGEST WEAKNESS AND THE BIGGEST DANGER FACING THE CAMPAIGN?

Mahaffey: I THINK THE FACT THAT HE IS A HIGH-PROFILE DES MOINES LAWYER AND HAS LOBBIED FOR QUITE A FEW DIFFERENT CLIENTS. I THINK THAT PROBABLY IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT HE HAS.

Glover: LIKE ANY LAWYER, HE HAS TO RUN WITH HIS CLIENTS ON HIS BACK?

Mahaffey: TO SOME EXTENT, YES.

Glover: MR. CRAWFORD, WHAT ROLE IS THE ECONOMY GOING TO PLAY IN THIS ELECTION? DO YOU SEE IT CONTINUING SOFT? DO YOU SEE THIS BEING A PROBLEM FOR VILSACK THROUGH NOVEMBER?

Crawford: WELL, I THINK THAT THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE ECONOMY. THERE'S THE PART OF THE ECONOMY THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE'S JOBS AND THEIR HOPES FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO FIND GOOD JOBS AND THEIR HOPE THAT THE CHILDREN MIGHT STAY IN OUR STATE. THERE'S ALSO THE PART OF THE ECONOMY THAT THE POSTMAN DELIVERS FOUR TIMES A YEAR, THE QUARTERLY REPORT ON YOUR 401(K) OR YOUR IRA. AND THOSE HAVE BEEN DOWN, DOWN, DOWN. PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO RETIRE IS IN JEOPARDY. SO WE'VE GOT TWO ECONOMIC ISSUES THAT I THINK WILL DOMINATE COME NOVEMBER.

Yepsen: HOW DOES THAT BENEFIT -- WHAT'S THE PLUSES AND MINUSES OF THAT? I MEAN DEMOCRATS USUALLY BENEFIT FROM HARD ECONOMIC TIMES. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE THE PARTY OF THE LITTLE GUY. BUT IN THIS CASE YOU'RE ALSO THE INCUMBENT. SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE VALUE OF MY 201(K) NOW, I WONDER, GEE, DO I BLAME TOM VILSACK OR NOT. I MEAN THE WRONG-TRACK VOTER -- RIGHT-TRACK/WRONG-TRACK NUMBER IN THIS STATE, 52 PERCENT OF IOWANS THINK THINGS ARE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

Crawford: EVERY DAY BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER, YOU'RE GOING TO READ STORIES ABOUT BUSH'S PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT AND THE COMPANY THAT HE WAS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF. YOU'RE GOING TO READ ABOUT CHENEY'S INVOLVEMENT WITH HALIBURTON. AND I CAN'T -- THERE'S NOTHING IN HISTORY TO TELL US THAT THE REPUBLICANS CAN GAIN THE HIGH GROUND ON THIS ISSUE. NOTHING.

Yepsen: MIKE, ARE REPUBLICANS GOING TO GET BLAMED? ARE THEY GOING TO GET THE RAP HERE?

Mahaffey: I THINK THEY PROBABLY DO. I MEAN THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE PROBABLY DESERVE IT. GEORGE BUSH HAS BEEN PRESIDENT, AFTER ALL, FOR EIGHTEEN MONTHS. AND ALL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE OCCURRED, HAVE OCCURRED ON HIS WATCH, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT UNDER BILL CLINTON, HE WAS PURSUING OTHER ENDEAVORS. SO YOU CERTAINLY CAN'T BLAME ANYTHING ON THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. LOOK, THAT COULD BE A PROBLEM FOR INCUMBENTS IN GENERAL, I BELIEVE. I REALLY DO. I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME SURPRISES AROUND THE NATION IN TERMS OF SOME PEOPLE IN CONGRESS GETTING BEAT. MADISON, WISCONSIN, RECENTLY THERE WAS A PROBLEM UP THERE. AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IN MADISON, WISCONSIN, HAD TO RESIGN, AND THE PERSON THAT WAS ELECTED TO TAKE HIS PLACE WAS A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN. I THINK IT CAN CUT BOTH WAYS. BUT I STILL WONDER, DAVID, HOW THAT IS GOING TO PLAY IN THE GUBERNATORIAL RACES.

Crawford: DAVID, ONE LAST POINT ON THIS. EIGHTEEN MONTHS AGO GEORGE BUSH WANTED TO BE KNOWN AS THE CEO OF THE UNITED STATES, WHO WANTED TO PUT SOCIAL SECURITY FUNDS IN THE STOCK MARKET. DO YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO HEAR MUCH ABOUT EITHER OF THOSE THE REST OF THE WAY? AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY THAT MATTERS IN THE IOWA GOVERNOR'S RACE AND SENATE RACE. IT MATTERS BECAUSE GEORGE BUSH HAS BEEN TEFLONED BY 9/11. THAT'S GOING AWAY FAST. AND IF PEOPLE START TO BLAME THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCE ON HIM AND WASHINGTON RATHER THAN ON THEIR STATE GOVERNORS, THE DYNAMIC CHANGES COMPLETELY.

Mahaffey: THAT'S IF THAT HAPPENS. AND THE QUESTION IS WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE BLAMED ENTIRELY ON THE REPUBLICANS.

Yepsen: LET'S MOVE ON HERE. TALK ABOUT THE SENATE RACE, MIKE. HANDICAP THAT FOR US. TOM HARKIN VERSUS GREG GANSKE.

Mahaffey: INTERESTING, THE POLL IN "THE REGISTER" SHOWED A SINGLE-DIGIT --

Yepsen: 50 TO 41 --

Mahaffey: YES. WHICH I THINK WAS A SHOT IN THE ARM TO THE GANSKE CAMPAIGN. TOUGH, TOUGH RACE. I WOULD CONCEDE A TOUGH RACE FOR GREG GANSKE BECAUSE TOM HARKIN IS TOUGH. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, NOW TALKING ABOUT THE NATIONAL ISSUES, THE DIFFICULTY I THINK GREG GANSKE HAS IS WHAT ARE THE DEFINING ISSUES THAT CAN MOVE THAT 5 TO 10 PERCENT OF THE ELECTORATE THAT HE NEEDS TO GET ELECTED. I'M NOT SAYING THAT HE CAN'T DO IT. AND THE LATEST POLLS I THINK HAVE BEEN A SHOT IN THE ARM TO HIM, BUT IT'S A TOUGH RACE.

Borg: IF YOU'RE ADVISING HIM, WHERE ARE HARKIN'S NEGATIVES?

Mahaffey: WELL, PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THIS: REPUBLICANS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY'RE CONSERVATIVES, CENTRISTS, MODERATES, WHATEVER, THEY HAVE -- THEY BASICALLY HAVE A VERY VISCERAL DISLIKE OF TOM HARKIN. AND SOMETIMES THAT CLOUDS OUR ABILITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE HE IS AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN TERMS OF TRYING TO SOLVE THINGS. ONE OF THE THINGS GREG GANSKE DOES, AND THIS IS -- PERHAPS CAN BE APPEALING IS HE SAYS, "LOOK, WE NEED TO GOVERN FROM THE CENTER. I CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS." TOM HARKIN IS TOO STRIDENT IN HIS APPROACH. AND I THINK THAT MAY BE SOMETHING -- ONE OF THE PLACES --

Glover: SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO THINK RATIONALLY ABOUT SOMEBODY YOU THINK IS THE ANTICHRIST?

Mahaffey: WELL, I JUST THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE -- I DON'T THINK THE GANSKE CAMPAIGN UNDERESTIMATES HIM. I THINK SOMETIMES IN THE PAST WE HAVE.

Glover: MR. CRAWFORD, HOW DOES TOM HARKIN GET BEAT? GIVE ME A FORMULA FOR GREG GANSKE.

Crawford: LET ME TELL YOU. GREG GANSKE IS IN THE WORST BOX I CAN EVER REMEMBER IN IOWA POLITICS. I MEAN THIS IS A GUY WHO LOST 41 PERCENT OF THE VOTE IN THE PRIMARY TO A HAIRCUT AND A PICKUP TRUCK. HE LOSES 28 COUNTIES IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION. NOW, WHAT DOES HE DO? DOES HE LURCH RIGHT AND TRY AND GO AFTER THE VOTES HE LOST IN THE PRIMARY TO SALIER AND CEDE HARKIN THE MIDDLE, OR DOES HE FURTHER ALIENATE THAT 41 PERCENT OF HIS BASE BY TRYING TO GO TO THE MIDDLE? I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE GOES.

Yepsen: BUT, JERRY, THE POLLS SHOW HE'S GOT THAT 41 PERCENT. AS MIKE SAYS, REPUBLICANS HATE TOM HARKIN. I MEAN THERE MAY BE REPUBLICANS THAT DON'T LIKE GREG GANSKE, BUT THERE AIN'T NO WAY THEY'RE GOING TO BE VOTING FOR TOM HARKIN. WELL, IT'S A 50-TO-41 RACE, JERRY.

Crawford: HE DOESN'T HAVE ALL OF THAT 41 PERCENT, NOT WHEN SALIER WON'T SAY WHO HE'S GOING TO VOTE FOR, NOT WHEN CHARLTON HESTON JUST COMES IN AND DANCES ON HIS HEAD BY SAYING, "NO, I DID NOT." IF YOU CAN'T -- IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR THE SENATE AND YOU CAN'T GET CHARLTON HESTON'S ENDORSEMENT!

Mahaffey: BUT, YOU KNOW SOMETHING, IN THIS CASE I DON'T THINK IT NECESSARILY HURTS HIM BECAUSE THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE BUMPER STRIPS SAYING CHARLTON HESTON IS MY PRESIDENT THAT WERE LEFT OVER FROM THE CLINTON YEARS ARE STILL GOING TO VOTE, I THINK, FOR GREG GANSKE. AND THE SALIER PEOPLE, AS WE CAN SEE ALREADY, ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR GREG GANSKE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT BILL SALIER SAYS. SO THE MIDDLE GROUND IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR.

Yepsen: BUT DON'T YOU HAVE A PROBLEM ON THE REPUBLICAN RIGHT IN THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE ALSO YOUR FOOT SOLDIERS? I MEAN THESE ARE THE GUYS THAT KNOCK ON DOORS. AND THEY MAY VOTE FOR TOM HARKIN BUT, MIKE, ARE THE SALIER PEOPLE GOING TO BE SITTING HOME OR ARE THEY GOING TO BE GOING TO WORK?

Mahaffey: AND THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION AND, TO SOME EXTENT, THAT SENATE RACE WILL HINGE ON THE ANSWER TO THAT. THERE'S EFFORTS TO SEE THAT HAPPENS, BUT THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

Borg: MIKE GLOVER?

Glover: WHAT DOES THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DO ABOUT BILL SALIER?

Mahaffey: I'M NOT SURE THERE'S A LOT THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT BILL SALIER. I THINK YOU TREAT HIM TO SOME EXTENT -- YOU ARE RESPECTFUL TO THE FACT THAT HE GOT 41 PERCENT OF THE VOTE. HE WAS A VERY CHARISMATIC CANDIDATE IN MANY RESPECTS. I THINK YOU CONTINUE TO BUILD BRIDGES TO HIM. YOU CONTINUE TO STRESS TO HIM THAT IF HE WISHES TO HAVE A FUTURE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN IOWA, HE NEEDS TO ENDORSE GREG GANSKE BECAUSE THAT, I THINK, IS IMPORTANT. HE NEEDS TO BE A GOOD SOLDIER. I THINK THERE'S EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING DONE IN THAT RESPECT.

Crawford: DAVID, YOU MADE A POINT I DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A DEFINING POINT, PERHAPS IN BOTH THESE RACES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHEN YOU SAID THAT GANSKE IS GOING TO HAVE TROUBLE RECRUITING FOOT SOLDIERS FOR THE PRECINCT-LEVEL OPERATION COME ELECTION DAY. ALL HYPERBOLE ASIDE, I TELL YOU THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS PUT IN PLACE THE BEST FIELD OPERATION THAT I'VE EVER KNOWN OF ANYWHERE IN POLITICS IN THIS COUNTRY.

Yepsen: I THINK MOST PEOPLE AGREE WITH THAT, JERRY.

Crawford: AT THE VERY TIME -- AT THE VERY TIME THAT THEY HAVE TROUBLE EXECUTING EXACTLY THAT --

Yepsen: WHAT DO REPUBLICANS DO ABOUT IT?

Mahaffey: WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO, BECAUSE I'VE TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE ABOUT THIS, INCLUDING PEOPLE IN THE STATE PARTY. WE REALIZED THAT IN THE LAST FEW, SAY THREE OR FOUR, ELECTION CYCLES, WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONALLY BEEN BEATEN ON ELECTION DAY. THERE IS AN EFFORT TO GO BACK TO OLD-FASHIONED POLITICS IN THAT REGARD. ONE OF THE EFFORTS IS TO GET PEOPLE TO SIGN UP FOR THE LAST -- TO GIVE TWENTY HOURS IN THE LAST WEEK. AND THAT EFFORT IS TO TRY TO GET TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE OF IOWA. NOW, WHETHER IT WILL BEAR FRUIT ENTIRELY THIS YEAR OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW. BUT REPUBLICANS DO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A BETTER ORGANIZATIONAL EFFORT, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE THAT ARE IN CHARGE OF THAT PROGRAM.

Glover: MR. MAHAFFEY, LET'S GO TO SOME CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN THIS STATE AND SEE WHAT THINGS LOOK LIKE THERE. OUT WEST THEY HAVE A HUMDINGER OF A PRIMARY, AS MR. CRAWFORD SAID. IS STEVE KING THE NEXT CONGRESSMAN FROM WESTERN IOWA?

Mahaffey: YES. AND YOU KNOW THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THAT, STEVE KING CAN PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THIS ELECTION BECAUSE HE HAS SAID HE'S GOING TO GO TO EVERY TOWN IN THAT DISTRICT. WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO IS TO GET PEOPLE ENERGIZED AND ORGANIZED, BECAUSE IN WESTERN IOWA, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IN THE PAST HAS BEEN WE WIN WESTERN IOWA BUT WE DON'T WIN WITH THE MARGIN WE SHOULD AND WE DON'T TURN OUT THE VOTE THAT WE SHOULD IN WESTERN IOWA. AND STEVE KING --

Glover: HOW MOTIVATED WILL A VOTER BE IN WESTERN IOWA WHEN THEY HAVE A NONCOMPETITIVE CONGRESSIONAL RACE?

Mahaffey: I THINK STEVE KING HAS TO IMPRESS UPON THEM THAT HE NEEDS THEM TO BE OUT TO VOTE FOR HIM AND FOR OTHER PEOPLE. I THINK HE'S A VERY INTEGRAL PART IN TERMS OF TURNOUT IN WESTERN IOWA.

Glover: MR. CRAWFORD, DID REPUBLICANS MAKE A MISTAKE WHEN THEY DREW THESE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS? THEY CREATED A HUGE OVERWHELMING REPUBLICAN WESTERN IOWA DISTRICT AND FOUR OTHER DISTRICTS THAT ARE PRETTY DARN COMPETITIVE.

Crawford: THAT MAP IS WORTH GOLD TO US.

Yepsen: OKAY. TALK ABOUT THE FOURTH DISTRICT, SPEAKING OF GOLD. TOM LATHAM, A REPUBLICAN, VERSUS JOHN NORRIS, A DEMOCRAT. IS NORRIS GOING TO CONGRESS?

Crawford: JOHN NORRIS, 50 PERCENT MORE CASH ON HAND THAN THE INCUMBENT. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. THE FIVE BIGGEST COUNTIES IN THE DISTRICT, LATHAM HAS NEVER REPRESENTED. ALL FIVE ARE DEMOCRATIC COUNTIES. BOOK IT. NORRIS IS GOING TO CONGRESS.

Yepsen: WHAT ABOUT THAT, MIKE? IS YOUR OLD FRIEND TOM LATHAM A GONER HERE?

Mahaffey: NO. BUT IT'S A VERY TOUGH RACE. I WILL AGREE IT'S VERY COMPETITIVE. HE'S GOING TO HAVE QUITE A FEW FUND-RAISING EVENTS IN AUGUST AND PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO THE COFFERS. HE HAS ALSO BEEN ON TV IN THAT DISTRICT, IF YOU WILL, INTRODUCING HIMSELF TO PLACES. JOHN NORRIS IS EVIDENTLY HOARDING HIS MONEY. I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S NECESSARILY BAD. LOOK, BOTH OF THEM WILL HAVE --

Crawford: HE DID THAT BEFORE HE RAN FOR CONGRESS.

Mahaffey: THAT'S RIGHT. BOTH OF THEM WILL HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, BUT A VERY COMPETITIVE RACE. BUT DON'T COUNT TOM LATHAM OUT.

Glover: LET'S GET TO YOUR PART OF THE STATE, MR. MAHAFFEY. YOU'VE GOT A PRETTY COMPETITIVE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION OVER IN EASTERN IOWA WITH JULIE THOMAS RUNNING AGAINST JIM LEACH. SHE'S GOT THREE TIMES MORE MONEY THAN HE DOES, AND THE DISTRICT IS 58-PERCENT DEMOCRATIC. HOW DOES HE PULL THAT OUT?

Mahaffey: INTERESTING, I WAS TALKING TO A FRIEND THE OTHER DAY WHO WENT TO THE THOMAS WEBSITE. SHE DOESN'T EVEN MENTION JIM LEACH ON HER WEBSITE. SHE IS NOT REALLY RUNNING AGAINST JIM LEACH. SHE IS HOPING THAT IF SHE HAS ENOUGH MONEY -- AND IT LOOKS LIKE SHE WILL HAVE QUITE A BIT OF MONEY -- THAT SHE CAN JUST CONVINCE PEOPLE THEY SHOULD VOTE FOR HER. LOOK, I THINK THAT'S A COMPETITIVE RACE ALSO. WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, JIM LEACH WILL WIN THAT.

Borg: WHAT I HEAR THERE, THOUGH, IS THAT SHE'S CONCENTRATING ENTIRELY ON HEALTH CARE AND SHE'S A LITTLE SOFT ON THE OTHER ISSUES, JERRY.

Crawford: WELL, I THINK IT'S EARLY TO KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE WILL BE THAT EMERGES COME OCTOBER. BUT LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THAT DISTRICT. JIM LEACH COULDN'T CARRY JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA CITY, AGAINST BOB RUSH. BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER BECAUSE HE ALWAYS PILED UP HUGE MARGINS IN DAVENPORT. NOW HE DOESN'T HAVE DAVENPORT IN THAT DISTRICT, SO WHERE ELSE DOES HE GO? DOES HE GO TO CEDAR RAPIDS WHERE JULIE THOMAS IS FROM AND WELL KNOWN AND WELL LIKED?

Mahaffey: HE'S REPRESENTED -- JIM LEACH HAS REPRESENTED ALL BUT ONE COUNTY IN THAT DISTRICT AT SOME TIME OR ANOTHER. THEY HAD A FUND-RAISER AT DAN GABLE'S HOUSE RECENTLY FOR JIM LEACH. OVER 200 PEOPLE THERE. HALF THEM WERE DEMOCRATS. THAT'S WHY I STILL SAY, I THINK COMPETITIVE, YES, BUT I THINK JIM LEACH WILL WIN.

Yepsen: JERRY, WE HAVE JUST A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT, AND WE'VE GOT TWO RACES YET. BOSWELL AND STAN THOMPSON IN THE THIRD DISTRICT. HAS LEONARD SHORED THINGS UP IN POLK COUNTY TO THE EXTENT THAT HE NEEDS TO, TO WIN THAT RACE?

Crawford: I THINK SO. HE HAS REALLY BEEN HIGH ENERGY LATELY, AND I DON'T SEE ANY MOMENTUM ON THE OTHER SIDE.

Yepsen: STAN THOMPSON?

Mahaffey: A RED OAK NATIVE, DOING A GOOD JOB RAISING FUNDS. VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY IS COMING IN FOR HIM. I THINK THAT COULD END UP BEING AN INTERESTING RACE TO WATCH.

Crawford: LEONARD'S BACKGROUND IN TERMS OF MILITARY -- MILITARY BACKGROUND, HIS ROLE IN THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE. I MEAN THE PEOPLE IN CONGRESS TURN TO THE PEOPLE IN CONGRESS THEY TRUST THE MOST FOR THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE WORK. LEONARD IS THERE.

Mahaffey: ONLY ONE IN FOUR PEOPLE IN THAT DISTRICT HAVE BEEN REPRESENTED BY CONGRESSMAN BOSWELL.

Glover: FAR EASTERN IOWA, THE FIRST DISTRICT, CONGRESSMAN JIM NUSSLE RUNNING AGAINST BETTENDORF MAYOR ANN HUTCHINSON.

Mahaffey: A FORMER REPUBLICAN.

Glover: A FORMER REPUBLICAN. IT'S AN INTERESTING --

Crawford: WE'D WELCOME YOU TOO.

Glover: TELL ME ABOUT IT. HANDICAP IT.

Mahaffey: LOOK, I CAN'T SEE THE CHAIR OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES GETTING BEAT. I THINK ANOTHER COMPETITIVE RACE. THEY'RE HONESTLY -- IOWA IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE STATES IN THE UNION THIS YEAR. WHAT ARE THERE, 18 TO 24 CONGRESSIONAL RACES THAT ARE UP FOR GRABS, AND WE'VE GOT TWO OR THREE OF THEM.

Yepsen: JERRY, WHAT ABOUT THAT RACE? HER FUND-RAISING LOOKS PRETTY SICK.

Crawford: SHE NEEDS TO DO A BETTER JOB ON FUND-RAISING, BUT FIFTEEN YEARS AS MAYOR OF BETTENDORF, A REPUBLICAN BASE GOES DEMOCRATIC, AND NUSSLE HAS BEEN WEAK AGAINST VERY WEAK OPPONENTS. NOW HE'S GOT ONE THAT BEAT A FORMER CONGRESSMAN IN EVERY COUNTY IN THE PRIMARY.

Borg: HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE IOWA LEGISLATURE?

Crawford: THE MAP PROBABLY WILL HAVE MORE OF AN EFFECT ON THE OUTCOME OF CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE THAN ANYTHING WE DO, BUT WE'VE GOT AN AWFULLY GOOD FIELD OF CANDIDATES AND OPERATION IN PLACE.

Mahaffey: REPUBLICANS FEEL GOOD, I BELIEVE, THAT THEY WILL MAINTAIN THEIR CONTROL IN THE SENATE, PERHAPS EVEN ADD TO THAT. THEY MAY LOSE A FEW IN THE HOUSE. THEY'RE VERY COMPETITIVE IN THE HOUSE, BUT I THINK THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE WE WILL MAINTAIN CONTROL.

Borg: THANKS FOR YOUR INSIGHTS.

Mahaffey: THANK YOU.

Borg: ON OUR NEXT EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS," WE'LL BE TALKING WITH THE CANDIDATES, IN THIS CASE THE TWO MAJOR-PARTY CANDIDATES FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: SALLY PEDERSON TAKING A SECOND TERM ON THE TICKET WITH INCUMBENT GOVERNOR TOM VILSACK -- SHE'LL BE HERE AT THE IOWA PRESS TABLE -- ALONG WITH HER COUNTERPART, REPUBLICAN DEBI DURHAM, ON THE TICKET WITH GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE DOUG GROSS. THAT'S NEXT WEEKEND, FRIDAY AT 6:30, SUNDAY AT NOON. THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S EDITION. I'M DEAN BORG. THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.