The crowded GOP primaries in North Carolina and Georgia are nuts but Iowa's crowded primary just keeps on getting weirder:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/...
In a new TV ad, Iowa U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst rolls up on a Harley, pulls her purse from a saddlebag, and loads up a handgun for some target practice.
A month after her first television commercial, "Squeal," gained national notoriety for its hog castration theme, Ernst is putting a new ad in rotation in Iowa. Campaign aides shared a link to the video with The Des Moines Register.
"She's not your typical candidate," a male announcer says in the 30-second spot. "Conservative Joni Ernst: mom, farm girl and a lieutenant colonel who carries more than just lipstick in her purse. Joni Ernst will take aim at wasteful spending. And when she sets her sights on Obamacare, Joni's going to unload."
There's a blam, blam, blam, blam of gunshots. - Des Moines Register, 5/5/14
Pretty nuts, right? Well, it's all part of Ernst strategy of winning the nominee:
http://www.thewire.com/...
Now fans can "give Joni a shot" by contributing to her campaign, which is going well, all things considered. The Republican primary is on June 3rd, and Ernst is narrowly leading the field. In April, a Suffolk University poll gave her 25 percent of the vote, while her main competitor, businessman Mark Jacobs, took 23 percent. If Ernst wins the nomination and goes on to beat Democrat Bruce Baley, she would be Iowa's first female senator. She would also be the first female combat veteran to serve in the Senate.
Her gun-toting, hog-castrating has solidified her future as a Mama Grizzly, at least. Palin's made her part of that exclusive club of "farm girl"-style politicians, by connecting her with likeminded individuals throughout her campaign. Last week, Palin organized a "Heels On, Gloves Off" rally for Ernst, and Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer, and former Nebraska Gov. Kay Orr all showed up. They posed with American flag pumps, of course. - The Wire, 5/5/14
And Ernst certainly is acting like the frontrunner:
http://www.kmaland.com/...
Calling herself a "proven conservative," Ernst says she's more business-friendly than Braley.
"Mr. Braley stands for large bureaucracies," said Ernst, "and the endless regulations that go with those bureaucracies. Here in the state (of Iowa), myself and other Republican leaders have toured and visited with business leaders here in the state. We've taken their suggestions back to the Statehouse. And we've worked to end those harmful regulations."
PBS News Anchor/Reporter Judy Woodruff moderated Saturday's debate. Following the debate, KMA News had a chance to talk to Woodruff. And, she was asked whether Ernst, by targeting Bruce Braley, is signaling that she's the front runner in the five-candidate race for the Republican nomination.
"I think it's something all of the candidates want to say," said Woodruff. "They all want to say, 'I'm the best person to go up against Congressman Braley.' And I think she (Ernst) made a point spending a minute or two spending a minute or two at the beginning of the debate talk about that." Woodruff noted that at the end of the debate, all but one of the candidates indicated they would support the Republican nominee over Braley in the November general election. Sam Clovis indicated he was "withholding judgment." - KMA Land, 5/5/14
And Ernst recently scored a big endorsement:
http://thehill.com/...
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is endorsing Iowa Senate candidate Joni Ernst (R), giving her race a boost in the first-in-the-nation caucus state.
The endorsement is the first time Rubio has stepped into a competitive GOP primary, and it could have repercussions not only for this race but for Rubio's presidential hopes should he decide to run in 2016. Ernst is facing big-spending businesssman Mark Jacobs (R), as well as former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker (R) and former conservative radio host Sam Clovis (R) in the primary.
"I'm proud to announce that Joni Ernst from Iowa is my Reclaim America PAC's newest endorsement of 2014," Rubio writes in an email to supporters, calling Ernst "the type of tough, no-nonsense conservative that we need in Washington." - The Hill, 5/5/14
It remains to be seen how competitive Ernst will be against Rep. Bruce Braley (D. IA). Either way, the Koch Brothers want Tom Harkin's (D. IA) old Senate seat and they will spend big to get it. It should also be noted that Braley is a strong supporter of gun control and we could use more guys like him in the U.S. Senate. Click here if you want to donate and get involved with Braley's campaign:
http://www.brucebraley.com/