Some craziness out of Iowa today courtesy of the Jonie Ernst (R. IA):
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/...
During a televised primary debate, a moderator asked Ernst about the shooting because of an ad she ran that shows her firing in a shooting range and promising to "unload" on Obamacare.
"Mrs. Ernst, a viewer wrote us saying in light of the shooting of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, the shootings at the Aurora, Colo., theater, and most recently at the UC Santa Barbara campus, 'we have a Joni Ernst in the television ad that is running continuously on all local television stations that contains violent imagery pointing a gun directly at the viewer and vowing to quote ‘shoot them down’ and hateful language directed toward their opponents. Is this really what politics has become in this country?'" the moderator said. "Mrs. Ernst, what do you say to this viewer?"
"Yes, I would say to this viewer that what happened in that shooting and that stabbing is an absolute tragedy," Ernst said. "However, I remain firm in my commitment to the Second Amendment. I have been endorsed by the NRA in this race, and again, just because of a horrible, horrible tragedy, I don’t believe we should be infringing upon people’s Second Amendment rights."
The moderator then asked Ernst if she would change the ad or its timing in light of the UCSB shooting.
"I would not -- no. This unfortunate accident happened after the ad, but it does highlight that I want to get rid of, repeal, and replace Bruce Braley’s Obamacare," Ernst replied, referring to a Democratic Senate candidate. "And it also shows that I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. That is a fundamental right." - TPM, 5/30/14
And of course Rep. Bruce Braley's (D. IA) U.S. Senate campaign immediately hit back:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/...
Democrats immediately took to Twitter and email to criticize Ernst.
"She described Santa Barbara as an accident," Jeff Link, a strategist for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Braley's campaign said in an email to The Des Moines Register. "This was a rampage against women with knives and guns."
Ernst's campaign aides accused her opponents of pushing to politicize a tragedy.
"As she said when she first answered the question, Joni believes that this was a terrible tragedy," Ernst campaign manager Derek Flowers said. "It's outrageous that Democrats are politicizing and playing gotcha politics with this tragedy." - Des Moines Register, 5/30/14
Ernst's timing couldn't be any more perfect. Her latest ad was trying to paint herself as sane and rational, which she is neither:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/...
After her much-talked-about "Squeal" and "Shot" campaign commercials, GOP U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst is out with her fourth TV advertisement today, aides told The Des Moines Register.
Iowans are one week away from counting the votes in the primary elections. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 3.
In "Long Way," Ernst says: "I'm Joni Ernst and I approved this message, because this is home. I grew up walking beans on our family farm. The church I grew up in is the church where our daughter was baptized. Hard work. Love of country. This is where I learned America's greatness comes from people, not government. It's a long way from Red Oak to Washington. But I'm asking for your vote, because I'll take our values there, instead of the other way around."
Recent public and internal campaign polling shows Ernst is the clear frontrunner in the GOP race for U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin's seat, with former Texas energy company CEO Mark Jacobs several points down in second place. In a distant third is college professor/conservative radio talk show host Sam Clovis, followed by former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker and car dealership manager Scott Schaben. - Des Moines Register, 5/27/14
Ernst is the clear frontrunner in the GOP primary and she has some big backing:
https://www.opensecrets.org/...
Ernst has also been endorsed by the Senate Conservatives Fund, a group that has backed several non-establishment candidates in tight Senate races, as well as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Still, Ernst’s campaign funding is modest in comparison with the operation of the other main contender in the June 3 primary, Mark Jacobs. With almost $3.9 million raised so far in the campaign cycle, Jacobs has brought in more than triple Ernst’s $1.2 million.
Much of that cash, though, comes from Jacobs’ own bank account. The former CEO of Texas-based Reliant Energy, Jacobs has drawn on his personal reserves for $2.7 million, or 69 percent of his total funds raised. As of the end of 2013 (that’s the date of the most recent electronically available data that OpenSecrets.org could analyze), he had also drawn $86,000 in contributions from the oil and gas industry and the energy industry. As of the same date, he had received nearly five times as much money from Houston as from Des Moines.
Ernst has received more small donor support, not surprisingly, but has also benefited from a slew of out-of-state contributions and spending by outside groups, particularly in the last few weeks. Out of a total $343,044 in outside spending supporting Ernst in the race, $210,870 came in the last week — including $150,770 laid out by Reclaim America, the leadership PAC of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), whose political plans seem to involve the Hawkeye State.
Quite a contrast with Ernst’s humble beginnings: She spent a mere $9,000 to air the “Squeal.” (In her second ad, by the way, she steps off her Harley, loads up her pistol and starts shooting.) - Open Secrets, 5/29/14
And this guy is coming to Iowa to campaign for her:
http://wqad.com/...
Governor Mitt Romney, a former presidential candidate, planned to visit Iowa for the first time since the 2012 general election, this time in support of U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst.
According to Joni Ernst’s website, Romney was set to be in Cedar Rapids and Davenport on Friday, May 30, to campaign with the self-proclaimed hog-castrating republican candidate. - WQAD 8, 5/29/14
Braley has been a staunch supporter of gun control and is backed by Gabby Giffords. We can hold onto Senator Tom Harkin's (D. IA) seat but we have to make sure our base comes out to defeat nut job Ernst in November. Click here to donate and get involved with Braley's campaign:
http://www.brucebraley.com/