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'Farmer...Never Went to Law School'

Congressman Bruce Braley speaks to the crowd at the 2013 Iowa Democratic Party Jefferson Jackson Dinner in Des Moines

Iowa Congressman and Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Braley has apologized for comments he made at a January fundraiser in Texas. 

"If you help me win this race, you may have someone with your background, your experience, your voice ... on the Senate Judiciary Committee," Braley said. "Or you might have a farmer from Iowa who never went to law school, never practiced law, serving as the next chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee."

The reaction to the revelation of the comments has been varied.  Republicans pounced, Democrats defended.  During this segment of River to River, listener opinion went from "it's a distraction" to "it makes me not want to vote for him."

Short clips of comments from politicians can often gain attention quickly.  Sometimes the issue dies just as quickly.  Other times it has traction in the minds of voters and the media.

One of our political analysts on the program, Coe College Political Science Professor Bruce Nesmith, has this advice, "What you want to do is make sure stupid comments don't get in the way of your substance."

Ben Kieffer is the host of IPR's River to River
Katherine Perkins is IPR's Program Director for News and Talk