Average Americans, middle-class citizens, just feel disenfranchised by our government. And they feel particularly unhappy by what is perceived as business-as-usual politics in Washington.

Climate change is very real. It is a serious issue it should be treated that way... It is not just ours here in Iowa or even in the United States.

I do think women change the discourse in Senate and I think it is more civil when women are involved.

I think women bring a different perspective into Senate and that we tend to be more collaborative in our approach.

We have to get back to a government where leaders are willing to talk across party lines and do not have absolute politics as the goal. Our goal has to be bettering the country, making sure we have an education system that is world-class and a healthcare system that is world-class, making sure social security is safe. People don't care who is huddling in a corner with whom, making the next political move. If you are elected to do a job, you are supposed to do it to the best of your ability.

One of the things that we need to do immediately is try to move our self away from petroleum-based or fuels from carbon-based fueling of this country, and, you know, we started doing that here in Iowa and we've been very successful with developing our alternative energy programs.

Average Americans, middle-class citizens, just feel disenfranchised by our government. And they feel particularly unhappy by what is perceived as business-as-usual politics in Washington.