In 1940, Gross challenged Iowa's sitting Governor, George A. Wilson, in the Republican primary, running what newspapers called a "sight-unseen" campaign.
ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi, ɡɹˈoʊs tʃˈælɪndʒd ˈaɪəwəz sˈɪɾɪŋ ɡˈʌvɚnɚ, dʒˈɔːɹdʒ ˈeɪ. wˈɪlsən, ɪnðə ɹᵻpˈʌblɪkən pɹˈaɪmɚɹi, ɹˈʌnɪŋ wʌt nˈuːzpeɪpɚz kˈɔːld ˈeɪ "sˈaɪtʌnsˈiːn" kæmpˈeɪn.