Ernst Campaign Is Case Study for 2016 Aspirants

Breitbart's Big Government ^ | June 2, 2014 | Tony Lee

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This cycle, no candidate has navigated the GOP “civil war” better than Joni Ernst.

Ernst received the endorsement of Sarah Palin and hit the campaign trail with Mitt Romney. Senate Conservatives Fund backed her, and so did the Chamber of Commerce.

Ahead of Tuesday's Iowa GOP Senate primary, Ernst has a commanding 18-point lead in the Des Moines Register poll, but securing the nomination isn't certain. With 36% of the vote to liberal Republican businessman Mark Jacobs' 18%, Ernst is barely above the 35% threshold she must surpass in order to avoid a nominating convention on June 14. Though Ernst and Sam Clovis would be advantaged at a convention, nothing would be guaranteed when 2,000 fickle delegates meet.

It's a remarkable success story that might make a good case study for aspiring 2016 candidates. Notably, Ernst and Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio share a top consultant in Todd Harris, who has been helping Ernst navigate the rough waters of the 2014 primary cycle.

However, one key issue divides Ernst and Rubio: immigration. Ernst has been fairly emphatic in her opposition to amnesty, while Rubio – despite campaigning with similar rhetoric to Ernst – shepherded the “Gang of Eight” bill through the Senate.

Ernst has roared to the front of the pack by cobbling together an alliance of politicians and groups that usually just flat-out don't like each other, especially when it comes to granting amnesty to illegal immigrants....