Christie Vilsack for Congress

Congressman Christie: Last year, I talked with former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack about her interest in running for the U.S. Senate to take on Republican Chuck Grassley. She said she was qualified and did nothing to knock down the talk that she might do it. Two weeks later, she said she wouldn't. And Democrats (many of them) united around Des Moines attorney Roxanne Conlin as the candidate. The Vilsack-Conlin battle would have made for quite a primary, wouldn't it?

Jonathan Martin of the Politico just put out a story that he talked with Vilsack about running. His take is that she has interest in running for Congress in 2012. By that time, Iowa leaders will have redistricted the state and it's likely the state will lose 1 of its 5 current seats in Congress. Iowans need to start having more babies (I'm doing my part any day now:). Martin doesn't get into this in his piece, but Vilsack, I assume, would run in a Des Moines district. Running back home in Mt. Pleasant could put her up against the incumbent Democrat Dave Loebsack, unless he gets knocked off this November. But in Des Moines' 3rd district (if that is what it still is), she could step in and replace 7-term Congressman Leonard Boswell, who by that point would be 78. That's providing he doesn't get knocked off this November. Vilsack would definitely bring in a big name to the race. It would be especially interesting if her husband, Tom, would still be U.S. Secretary of Agriculture at that point.

But she hasn't run for anything before. Would that matter to you?