Facing a Republican primary winner who appears to be a stillborn candidate for November, U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, will have the flexibility and the leftover fundraising muscle to assist Barack Obama at the top of the ticket in the Hawkeye State — although Harkin suggested to reporters this week it would likely be in the form of organization rather than money.

“I don’t think Obama’s going to be hurting for money,” Harkin joked.Earlier in the day Harkin officially announced his support of Obama after having stayed neutral in the protracted primary fight.

Harkin, who has dispatched three congressmen and one sitting U.S. senator in his previous four races for the Senate, will be up against political upstart Christopher Reed, 36, a Marion businessman who was driving himself around to campaign events in recent weeks — unless George Eichhorn, fresh off a failed state legislative race, pulls out a recount.

In a conference call with Iowa Independent and other media, Harkin hit the expected keys, saying he wouldn’t take his re-election for granted.

“I don’t believe in any way I can walk or skip,” Harkin said.

But with a nation trending for change and a newly minted farm bill on the r