GOP Senate Primary: Rathje up on Radio, Bowing out of Debate
Nathan Greene
2 Comments
By Emily Geiger
In my car yesterday, I heard a radio ad for Steve Rathje, GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Tom Harkin. The add was actually very well done in my opinion. It essentially made fun of the fact that nobody knows how to say “Rathje” by having a whole bunch of little kids try to pronounce it (often mutilating it in the process), while at the same time gaining a whole bunch of name ID because the ad is pretty memorable.
After the kids are done massacring his name, Rathje comes on and says some typical, scripted, feel-good tripe about how he wants to change Washington. The ad is pretty effective, and it needs to be, given Rathje’s dismal performance in the radio interviews I’ve heard him give. I heard him one afternoon on WHO, and I couldn’t believe how many times he answered questions by saying “I don’t know” or “I’ll have to look into that.” It was embarrassing.
And on a side note, didn’t Rathje have like $249 dollars in the bank at the last reporting deadline? I wonder how he’s paying for these ad buys.
And on another side note, it’s also probably a good thing that Rathje’s ads are well done because he won’t be getting any good publicity from the upcoming GOP Primary Senate Debate sponsored by the Polk County GOP. That’s because Rathje is refusing to participate. I guess after seeing what a miserable failure he is at speaking live and off the cuff on the radio, it’s no surprise Rathje would want to avoid a debate.
Reader Comments (2)
how could Rathje spin not attending this debate to his favor.
his talks have gotten better over the last year, and it doesn't make a lot of sense to me why the other two waited until almost the last minute to file. I would tend to favor him, but he's making it hard to do.
Definitely black marks for not stepping up and debate on the issues - does he think he has it locked?
Stupid move to not debate your opponents..even from your own party..
If you're afraid to take on the folks from your own party...what is going to make anyone think that you've got the stones to take on Harkin.
Rathje has run one of the most inept campaigns I've ever seen. He's been running for what..2 1/2 years..and he doesnt have diddly squat for name recognition..fundraising or campaign structure....
Honestly..I can see this thing going to a vote at the State Convention. If no candidate recieves at least 35% of the vote..the State Convention will decide the nominee..