In a matter of months, Grassley set ablaze his very credibility, ramparts built over decades of hard work and grassroots politicking. Grassley's claimed willingness to work across the aisle is a sham. He, himself exposed it.

It's a testament to the weakness of his opponent, former Lt. Gov. Patty Judge, that none of Grassley's sins have stuck in this election cycle. Polls suggest Nov. 8 might be the closest re-election bid in which Grassley's ever found himself and he's still up by double-digits. Judge knows she hasn't made her case to Iowans. It's in her voice when the polls come up in interviews. National Democrats sent cash to winnable races in suddenly in-play battleground states. Judge's campaign is broke. Her message is muted. Grassley ducked a debate that would have aired statewide, thereby further rendering her campaign moot.

Judge can scream from the rooftops about minimum wage and immigration reform. No one hears it. And those who have aren't paying much attention.

She tried and failed to out Midwestern the king of Midwesterness. Even having the support of Garrison Keillor of “Prairie Home Companion” fame isn't enough.

Quite simply, Judge hasn't made her case.