The Iowa Independent offers up this look at the money race for the state Senate. Things look pretty darn positive:

Democrats already have a 30-to-20 advantage, and in five battleground districts identified earlier this year by The Iowa Independent, Democratic candidates have an overwhelming advantage in cash on hand, with $224,732 compared to $20,071 for the Republicans. Two of those five seats are currently held by retiring Republicans, meaning the Democrats are in good position to expand their majority in the Senate.

Republicans in the state seem to recognize that challenging upper chamber races will demand an uphill battle and are instead focusing on the House.

The Des Moines Register has a great soundbite from Iowa State Rep. Dan Rasmussen, a Republican:

"I'm sure I'm being nasty and mean, but that's my personality and you're going to have to take it."

Delightful, isn't it?

There aren't too many politicians who will readily admit to being, "nasty and mean." But in Rasmussen's case, at least that has the virtue of being true. Luckily for Iowa, the second part of his statement is 100 percent false. No one has to take an attitude like that from an elected official.

Particularly, when Democrats have a great candidate in Gene Ficken with a real chance at sending Rasmussen into retirement.

Yesterday, Greta wrote about the flooding in Iowa.

As rivers in some parts begin to crest and flooding begins to subside, the state government has begun working on its response. Iowa Gov. Chet Culver has said that he is likely to call a special session of the legislature as soon as the federal response is clear.

For their part, legislators seem ready to go to work.

The House has opened up its chamber to workers from the Department of Human Services whose offices have been threatened by flooding.

Sen. Bill Dotzler -- who is among those whose homes have been damaged by flooding -- told reporters that, “If the state can do something to help out, we ought to do it.”

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy has proposed putting together a commission to come up with an aid package.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal -- our chair at the DLCC -- is looking for ways to have the local resources fill the gaps left by federal aid, telling reporters, “We’ll be having discussions with legislators from the affected areas over the coming weeks and be looking at what the state might be able to do.”

Meanwhile, the Red Cross has spent $15 million responding to the floods and has exhausted its disaster relief fund. Please consider contributing here.

Through the course of the past week, my home state of Iowa has been hammered by a series of powerful storms and flooding.

On Wednesday, a tornado ripped through a Boy Scout camp in the western part of the state. Four scouts were killed and twenty were injured. Across Iowa, additional tornadoes have claimed the lives of at least 8 others.

Rivers throughout the state have swelled under heavy rains and flooded surrounding areas. Thousands have been forced to evacuate from their homes, and three have been killed as a result of the weather.

On Sunday, the Iowa River, which cuts right through the University of Iowa -- my alma mater -- stabilized at 31.5 feet -- 9 feet above flood level. This morning, sixteen buildings on campus were under water.

Iowa is the nation’s leading corn producer, and 16 percent of the state's 25 million acres of farmland is under water. Millions of acres of crops have already been destroyed.

At the DLCC, our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Iowa.

The American Red Cross is providing relief efforts in the state and throughout the Midwest. If you can, please take a moment to support their work.