U.S. Senate Candidate Christopher Reed was on Iowa Press this weekend despite the threats of legal action against IPTV from George Eichhorn who claims the race for the Republican nomination is still in progress. Since I have yet to hear from the Eichhorn campaign, I guess it’s OK with them that I write this article.

If you are looking for a smooth polished politician, then you are probably disappointed in Reed’s performance. If you are looking for a sincere, thoughtful, non-politician, then it’s pretty clear you have your guy. What most people need to understand is that you can’t have it both ways. Reed looked great with his ivory coat, white shirt and no tie. It screamed youth, and anti-Washington.

Iowa Press is probably one of the most difficult shows to do right out of the gate. Even a very polished Jim Nussle messed up early in his gubernatorial campaign when he indicated he favored local control for hog lots in Iowa (Republicans and the Farm Bureau support state wide standards).

Reed didn’t have any slip up of any great magnitude, but it was obvious that Mike Glover and David Yepsen were like two paranas who taste blood in the water. For example, when asked about how he would cut wasteful spending in Washington, Reed said that, for starters, he would cut earmarks.

The reporters pressed him and wanted more examples, he then brought up the Farm Bill and said he thought it contained too much welfare assistance in it.  They continued to press him, and he said he would oppose the $300 or so million dollars that the Federal government gives to Planned Parenthood. He even said he knew those are just drops in the bucket, but you have to start somewhere.

Glover quickly turned and asked if he would cut Medicare benefits.  Reed responded that he wouldn’t, and said that the Government must fulfill the promises it has made. My point in recounting this is that it was very clear what Yepsen and Glover wanted him to say. They were looking for him to say that he would eliminate the Department of Education, or cut the existing entitlement programs. Reed did a good job in not falling into their trap.

The interview provides me hope. I think Reed is showing that he can get better in this type of format. He also showed some skill in not getting overwhelmed by Iowa’s two senior political reporters. Nice job by Reed.