Poll: Former Iowa Gov. Vilsack Favored to Fill Tom Harkin's Senate Seat

A day after Rep. Bruce Braley announced his intentions to run for the United States Senate, a Des Moines Register poll has found Iowans' top choice for the seat is former governor Tom Vilsack.

Fifty-six percent of Iowans say he’d be an appealing Senate candidate, while 35 percent say he would not be an appealing candidate.

Vilsack, who is the current U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, hasn't expressed interest in the seat, though he hasn't dismissed the possibility either.

The only sure contender so far is Braley, who said in an email to supporters Thursday that he would form a committee to explore a Senate run.

The seat has long been held by Democrat Tom Harkin, who has announced he will not seek re-election in 2014. An Iowa Senate seat hasn't been open since 1974, making this race a rare chance for the state's Republicans to swing Iowa's politically balanced Senate delegation to a purely conservative one.

Which candidate the party will field to challenge the Democrats remains to be seen. Rep. Steve King and Rep. Tom Latham's names have both been floated as possible candidates.