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Nobody wants to run against Sen. Charles Grassley, which is understandable. He’s as familiar to Iowans as the State Fair. He has political power, campaign funds and national name recognition.

But he can’t last forever – although with his willpower and fitness regimen, he could come close – and eventually some Democrat will have to mount a serious campaign for his office just to see what happens. Grassley no doubt bites into a soybean or two every September to see if it’s time to bring out the combine; somebody needs to find out if Grassley is getting any closer to being harvestable himself.

If you were to construct an ideal contender, J. Barry Griswell would make a terrific template.

He has the up-from-nothing back story we still love so much.

He’s a Democrat who has been hugely successful in the business world, a nice balance right there.

His concern for others is clear in his work with the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and his volunteer efforts with Native Americans in South Dakota.

When you talk to him, you know instantly that he’s not an ordinary man plodding through the day with ordinary thoughts.

He and Bob Jennings decided to write a book about business, and it became a strong seller. A new field, another success.

And, by the way, he’s tall. Real tall. It never hurts to have an “imposing presence” in politics.

On the negative side, he has never held an elected public office. But that’s not much of a drawback when politicians are generally held in such low esteem.

Griswell has said he has no plans to run. That’s not exactly the same as saying “no, not ever, never.” It will be interesting to see if his circle of successful friends and business partners try to push him onto the speech-giving, fund-raising path.

He may not be particularly well-known in the Iowa hinterlands, but that could be changed with one good TV spot.