One Iowa in the News: Iowa GOP ratchets up effort to oust Gronstal

from Omaha World Herald.

DES MOINES — A political insider predicts that the effort by Republicans to oust Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs this November could end up as one of the most expensive races.

"This potentially is a million-dollar race," said Brent Siegrist, a former Republican speaker of the Iowa House and a resident of Gronstal's district.

The campaign for Iowa Senate District 8 is expected to draw a lot of out-of-state money from those upset with Gronstal for blocking Senate votes on writing discrimination into the Iowa Constitution by passing an amendment banning same-sex marriage, as well as for blocking a proposed ban on late-term abortions. On the other side of the ledger, large amounts of out-of-state money could be expected to flood into the state in support of Gronstal.

..."I think most campaigns are not about money," Gronstal said. "In fact, it's about meeting people door-to-door on their steps. I've done that. I'll continue to do that. We'll see how the campaign plays out."

Campaigns are expected to heat up after the Legislature adjourns in April.

...But Gronstal said a year ago he was willing to pay the ultimate political price, even if it meant losing re-election or the majority in the Iowa Senate, to prevent a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, which he said would write discrimination into the Iowa Constitution.

"I don't give up what I believe in," Gronstal said. "I accept every vote I take up in that chamber can result in my defeat in the next election. It can result in a defeat by my fellow members to be their leader. I accept that reality. I think you've got to stand for something in politics."

One Iowa, the state's largest gay-rights advocacy group, will stand behind Gronstal.

"We will continue to support our friends, who have supported us so much in recent years, throughout 2012," said One Iowa Executive Director Troy Price. "Mike Gronstal has done a great job on behalf of the people of Iowa as majority leader, and I am confident that he will return to the role" after the election.

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