[youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKBB392mtyM"]
Patty Judge was asked on WHO-TV yesterday about the biggest challenge in her campaign. Judge’s answer was simple: herself.
Patty Judge: The biggest challenge to victory is getting the word to enough voters in Iowa that I am the candidate and will serve them best in the U.S. Senate.
She said it! Judge herself admitted that she’s struggling to connect with voters, particularly in a competitive primary against a popular grassroots liberal. And yet, she seems to be going out of her way to avoid primary debates as voters make up their minds ahead of the June 7 primary.
“Two forums and a televised debate are on the docket this week as Democratic voters attempt to decide which candidate to support in the June 7 primary… However, only half of the primary field attended the first of those three events, a forum hosted by the Des Moines South Side Democrats… Former Lt. Gov. Patty Judge had a previously scheduled campaign event in Waukee.” (Erin Murphy, “Democratic U.S. Senate Candidates Ready For Primary Close-Up,” Cedar Rapids Gazette, 5/24/16)
“Three of the four Iowa democratic candidates for U.S. Senate faced off at St. Ambrose University Monday night. Rob Hogg, Bob Krause and Tom Fiegen were all present, but candidate Patty Judge, was not.” (Ashley Davis, “Democratic Candidates For U.S. Senate Debate In Davenport Monday,” KWQC, 5/16/16)
“With Iowa Democrats sensing an opportunity to deny Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley a seventh term, three candidates hoping to replace him made their cases to be Iowa’s next U.S. senator… A fourth candidate, former Lt. Gov. Patty Judge of Albia, was unable to participate because of a scheduling conflict, her spokesman said.” (James Lynch, “Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate Hopefuls Make Case For Nomination, “Cedar Rapids Gazette, 5/12/16)
Judge had no problem ‘spitting in the face of democracy’ by skipping debates, but she did manage to find time for a west coast fundraising swing with D.C. insiders – sandwiched right in between two debates she skipped.
And while Judge was busy not talking to voters, her primary opponent just scored a major endorsement from the Sierra Club, while taking on water for supporting a massive federal overreach that would place new burdens on Iowa farmers.
Iowa’s primary is less than two weeks away. Will Patty Judge turn up before then?