What's making [Iowa U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Art] Small particularly angry? What really gets him worked up?

"That rain forest. How many millions of tax dollars is that costing us? If you made a list of all the things Iowans want, do you think an indoor rain forest would make the list?"

Quoted from:

Borsellino: 'Underdog' thinks big, doesn't fear going against Grassley

By ROB BORSELLINO
REGISTER COLUMNIST
August 18, 2004

It looked like Art Small was finally going to catch a break.

He had a chance to speak at the Iowa State Fair, a chance to address thousands of Iowans and tell them why he'd make a better U.S. senator than Chuck Grassley.

Up to now, things haven't been going well for Small.

He was a late entry, sort of a desperate move when nobody else wanted to run against a guy who's probably the most popular politician in the state.

Raising money hasn't been easy. He's come up with about $40,000. Grassley's pulled in about $7 million.

His campaign slogan is "Think Big, Vote Small," and he has little name recognition outside his home base of Iowa City.

Grassley won't debate him, and the polls are showing Small's at about 20 percent.

So when he stepped up to the mike at the fair the other morning, it was a rare opportunity to get his message out.

There were hundreds of people gathered in front of him, but only two or three were facing Small. The rest were facing the other way, looking out at the Grand Concourse that runs through the fairgrounds.

They were obviously waiting for something. Small didn't seem to notice.

He smiled, said good morning, launched into his campaign mode, and within seconds he was drowned out by the marching band and the announcer for the veterans parade.

The crowd was growing, cheering the band and the vets, ignoring Small.

He kept talking, but the mike was feeding back, creating this shrill whistle.

He kept talking, saying something about how "my opponent is taking special-interest money."

Dale Fischer from Thornton was sitting there trying to enjoy the parade. He turned around and yelled at Small, telling him it was rude to be talking while the veterans were marching.

Fischer was pretty worked up.

"I didn't come all the way down here to listen to some damn politician."

At that point Small thanked both of his followers and packed it in. He said he'd be back later.

He went and sat on a bench by himself and waited. Nobody seemed to notice he was sitting there.

This is a guy who's been a player in Iowa politics since the 1960s - including eight years in the state House and eight in the state Senate.

He's been on all kinds of boards and councils. He's a retired attorney and businessman. He's smart, savvy, and he has credibility.

He just doesn't seem to have a shot at beating Grassley.

And he's open about it.

"I'm an underdog. Remember the cartoon series with the slogan, 'There's no need to fear, Underdog is here.' That's me. People ask why I'm doing this, why I'm not home playing with the grandkids or bowling. The fact is, I don't bowl."

You can respect the fact that he doesn't bowl, but is that a good enough reason to run for the United States Senate? What's this about?

"It's about a lot of things. My opponent is the head of the Senate Finance Committee, and we've got the largest deficits in American history. We've got this prescription drug bill that helps the drug companies, not the sick people."

And what's making Small particularly angry? What really gets him worked up?

"That rain forest. How many millions of tax dollars is that costing us? If you made a list of all the things Iowans want, do you think an indoor rain forest would make the list?"

From there Small goes off on a rant about how Grassley is fiscally conservative on paper, but the reality is very different.

He talks about his own record in the Statehouse and how he helped overhaul the criminal code. He fought to eliminate language that made consensual sex between same-sex couples a criminal act.

He wrote the first tenant-landlord bill.

Then - with a half-smile - he says there's one other thing that distinguishes Art Small from Chuck Grassley:

"I'm younger than he is. He was born in September 1933, and I was born in October 1933. So give the younger guy a chance."

In a tough race, you use whatever you have.