In one bellwether Iowa county, Democrats upbeat

[ProSense]

Posted on: Friday, 16 June 2006, 13:11 CDT

In one bellwether Iowa county, Democrats upbeat

By James B. Kelleher

TIPTON, Iowa (Reuters) - Doug Simkin has a little extra bounce in his step as he travels around this congressional district on the eastern edge of this politically pivotal Midwestern state.

That's because like a lot of people here, including some Republicans, the 40-year-old Democrat senses a shift in the political landscape toward the Democrats heading into upcoming November congressional elections and, beyond that, the 2008 presidential contest.

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There's also growing frustration, among Republicans and Democrats alike, with the war in Iraq. "A lot of people are disgusted that it's gone on as long as it has," said Young, who still backs the fight.

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Voters are sensitive to anti-war messages because of the deaths in Iraq of two young men from the county -- Aaron Sissel of Tipton and Donald Griffith of Mechanicsville.

"I'm hearing people who are strong Republicans saying we've got no business being in Iraq and that we need to get out," Simkin said.

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