SIOUX CITY, IA -
With five months until Election Day, the candidates fighting for Iowa's Fourth Congressional District are beginning to feel the heat. And with new district lines, Congressman Steve King faces the biggest challenge of his political career.
Since Iowa lost a congressional district in the last census, the new Fourth District has 21 more counties and stretches into more liberal parts of Iowa. That has Iowa's former First Lady Christie Vilsack feeling good about her chances at winning.
"It will be long, it's going to be considered ugly, many people will shut their televisions off, they won't want to answer their telephone, and they'll be awfully glad when this election is over, I will be among them," said Congressman King.
But the race for the U.S. House seat is just getting started. And both candidates realize that with the new district boundaries comes new territory to win over.
"That's places where we have to build relationships in all of those 21 counties (that he hasn't represented before). And build a grass roots foundation there and of course the media component of it as well. So it stretches a person a little thin," said Congressman King.
Vilsack says as a former First Lady, she's already familiar with all 39 counties in the new 4th District, and she'll continue to do what she's always done.
"It's the perfect geographical district for me, because I've been such an advocate for small towns and small cities my entire life, and I've lived in small towns and small cities my entire life, so I'm really looking forward to representing this district," she said.
Each candidate has raised around two million dollars already, and now both have a "super PAC" on their side - an outside group with no spending limits.
Both candidates point out they have no control over how the super PACs (short for Political Action Committee) spend their money.
"I think they will spend between $5 and 10 million against me. I've said that for over a year, and it won't be complimentary, it won't be supporting my opponent, it will be all things just simply attacking me, and I've said over and over again that I will learn things about me, that I don't yet know," said King.
"I don't have any control over the super PACs, I'm really just trying to keep focused in the district, and going out there and laying out my vision," said Vilsack.
The big issue looming over the race right now is health care reform.
Both candidates are keeping a close eye on the U.S. Supreme Court, which is expected to rule on the Affordable Care Act next week. King hopes the court finds the law unconstitutional.
"The Commerce Clause in the Constitution will be so broadened by a Supreme Court decision, that any activity, or any inactivity in America would be considered part of interstate commerce," he said.
While Vilsack says whatever happens, her priority is keeping health care affordable.
"We need to focus on quality, we need to focus on making sure it's affordable, and making sure people have access," she said.
Both candidates have already started buying ads, and you'll definitely see more of those between now and November. As for the impact those new district lines have on the race, both Vilsack and King decided to not put their campaign headquarters in Sioux City, but in Ames instead.
If you wish to contact Heather, you can e-mail her at Hleigh@kmeg.com
