GOP's Vander Plaats to decide on U.S. Senate race soon

Speculation is heating up that Republican Bob Vander Plaats is ready to join the U.S. Senate race.

"Receiving much encouragement," he told The Des Moines Register this evening. "Seriously assessing. Hope to reach decision by Feb. 15."

Vander Plaats has been president of the Family Leader, a Christian conservative organization, since 2010. He has over the years lost three bids for the governor's office, losing primary battles in 2002, 2006 and 2010. He has since moved from Sioux City to Grimes.

He is probably best known in Iowa for successfully campaigning for the ouster of three Iowa Supreme Court justices in 2010, a historic upset fueled by the court's 2009 decision that allowed same-sex couples to marry.

Democrat Bruce Braley is already in the U.S. Senate race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin. And several Republicans have declared bids: lawyer Matt Whitaker, former car salesman Scott Schaben, lawyer Paul Lunde, retired energy company executive Mark Jacobs, state Sen. Joni Ernst and former radio talk show host Sam Clovis.