... Who's going to take on Harkin? A nobody who wants it bad, a Statehouse pol with a 'take no prisoners' attitude, a Statewide pressed & creased numbers guy or our favorite winger. Whoever it is, he or she will have to work hard and work fast.

Harkin's already back up running his Elmo & Me shtick and gearing up the troops to push the next set of hot issues - fat kids, alternate fuels, debt relief for twenty-something college grads.

It's no wonder why most high profile GOP types are not particularly interested in the idea of taking on his well-oiled political machine. But what about that other well-oiled machine on the receiving end of Harkin's generosity with other people's money?

Harkin's connection to the CIETC scandal could become a huge political problem as investigations into other Iowa based quasi-governmental organizations unfold.