“Iowa Comfort” and Doing the “Full Grassley”

Abstract

This chapter presents a qualitative analysis of 26 interviews conducted with political elites, including two former governors, insiders, and reporters in the state. This chapter introduces the concept of “Iowa comfort” and focuses on how the incumbency bias in Iowa is less a function of having a good economy or sharing party affiliation with a popular president, and more about personal factors, particularly being viewed as someone who “works hard” and is willing to visit all 99 counties in the state. Governors who are perceived as working hard not only have a better connection with Iowans, but also establish a level of trust and comfort among voters such that they are less likely to be punished at the polls when times are bad.