Harkin: Clinton should start campaigning in Iowa for 2016

Retiring Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) says Hillary Clinton should start visiting Iowa more if she plans on launching a 2016 presidential bid.

“If she’s going to run, she should start getting out here,” Harkin told the Quad-City Times on Friday.

{mosads}He touted Clinton as a strong candidate that “would bring a lot of experience and knowledge that we haven’t had in that White House for a long long time. “I mean just from the git go … I think she’s proven herself over all these years,” Harkin added.

The 30-year Senate Democratic veteran, who himself ran for president, also encouraged Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and Vice President Joe Biden to stump in his state.

The race to replace Harkin in the Senate is heating up. Rep. Bruce Braley is the only Democrat in the race so far. Republicans include State Sen. Joni Ernst, businessman Mark Jacobs and former attorney general Matt Whitaker.