Posted on 01/29/2016 12:51:37 PM PST by Red Steel
Just three days before the Iowa caucuses, longtime Republican Gov. Terry Branstad ripped into Ted Cruz - mocking him for his Thursday night debate performance and asserting that his prospects in the state are dimming.
"Ted Cruz was ahead in Iowa, but as people have figured out his stance on issues that are important to the economy of the state" he's lost support, Branstad said during a Friday morning taping of CSPAN's "Newsmakers," pointing specifically to Cruz's opposition to ethanol subsidies - an issue of central importance to Iowans. "He was ahead on polls, but now he's dropped below Trump."
The interview, which is set to air on Sunday, was conducted by reporters from POLITICO and the Washington Post.
Branstad's remarks followed a debate that saw Cruz come under attack from several of his rivals, and one in which he faced aggressive questioning over his consistency on immigration reform.
"It was a poor performance on his part," Branstad said, noting that Cruz had been booed during the debate while sparring with a moderator. Other candidates onstage, the governor said, performed better.
Branstad, the longest-serving governor in American history, has faced off against Cruz in recent days. After the Iowan called for Cruz's defeat last week, Cruz pushed back - labeling the governor part of the Washington insider class that has lined up against him.
Asked about that remark, Branstad fired back.
"I think he obviously doesn't know me. He doesn't understand that I'm governor of the state of Iowa, and that I have chosen time and again not to run for national office."
The governor said that he would support Cruz if he were to win the Republican Party nomination, but said he felt it was important to "inform" Iowans of Cruz's position on ethanol.
Branstad, in contrast, had flattering words for Donald Trump, who is in a neck-and-neck race with Cruz in the state. He noted that during his 2014 reelection campaign, a Republican Governors Association-sponsored fundraising event benefiting him was held on a Trump golf course.
"Donald Trump is a very interesting and unconventional candidate," Branstad said. He declined to criticize the billionaire for skipping the debate, saying only that, "I wouldn't have advised it."
Branstad wouldn't go so far as to predict a Trump victory on Monday, calling the race unpredictable and noting that many Iowans - including himself - had yet to make up their minds as to whom to support.
Says the TRUMP (PRAISE BE TO HIS NAME!) supporter.
True, but they were already long time politicians.
Huck was Gov in 97, Santorum in Senate in 95.
Cruz has only been in the game since 2013.
LOL!
If we had a conservative press that wasn't covering for OGABE on this issue maybe all the butthurt from the cruzholes could have been spared. But nooooooooooooo None of them dare mention the issue. Freaking morons
Yes Cruz did well. I want to see him over the noise level.
So the POTUS should be elected based on their stance on ethanol. Got it
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It is more than just a stance. Ted Cruz is a principled man who stood by the taxpayers. Trump bought votes from the ethanol lobby regardless of how it will affect the country.
Branstad was elected to his SIXTH four-year term in 2014.
The rise of Iowa’s evangelicals happened in the absence of Branstad, who stepped away from politics for a time. he and his establishment are back for this cycle. However, the GOP establishment is more conservative now than it used to be.
I have been around this for a while.
I can already hear the whinning when President Trump joins with the establishment in 2017 to make deals with Reid/Pelosi.
A lot can happen in a few election cycles. Look what happened the last two.
Money, especially other people’s money, talks.
Cruz #1 in Iowa by 11%. See you on the other side.
Is there a source for this or is it hope?
I was pulling hard for Cruz last night — and his first attempt at humor was fine. But he needed to stop there.
The whining relative to the questions and moderators — trying to channel Trump - was just plain stupid. Whoever gave Cruz that advice should be fired.
With Trump absent, Cruz simply needed to demonstrate a mastery of facts and conservative ideology - someone mature, reasoned, ready to be president, rather than an ignorant, narcissistic, petulant NY a—hole. Instead Cruz tried to be something he wasn’t, and it backfired. Badly.
It is truly amazing that a presidential candidate is standing up the the ethanol industry in Iowa.
Don’t forget to pick up your nerve pills this weekend.
You will need them next week.
You don’t have to wait.
The GOP house and senate have been making deals
with the RATS for a very long time.
"I'm not here to talk about Donald Trump. I'm here to share my optimistic view of America's future and to exhibit my leadership to the people of Iowa and the rest of the Nation."
Strong. Forceful. Positive. Not second fiddle. And would have cut off the Trump discussion (most of it) for the rest of the night, and have been one of the moments of the debate.
Instead, he opened with the lame nasally joke. He should fire his staff.
Dang, I really should be doing this for a living.
This election was supposed to stop that.
A President Cruz would work with his house allies to put pressure on the awful Senate.
Why taunt teammates? We’re supposed to be on the same side. If things don’t go as well as you expect for Trump are you going to be OK?
He won’t be making deals with Reid you dumb, cumb. Reid is retiring.
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