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.
But Texas isn’t a Winner take all where Trump is winning huge in Florida’s winner take all
Cruz is winning yuge in Texas.
At the very least, I want to see Cruz end up with some delegates so he has Donald’s respect.
Alternate scenario is the continuing litigation with Trump U or Trump’s caustic approach catches up to him.
Agreed. Bucking ethanol in Iowa is just not smart.
Absolutely ridiculous. Cruz doesn’t follow anybody. He led the Obamacare filibuster and shutdown attempt to name one major effort.
Under this originalist logic treatment for veterans is unconstitutional as it is not delineated under government powers. Of course social security and medicare is also unconstitutional as well as health plans for government workers. All of this is unconstitutional as none of the above is listed as something that the government can do. Am I wrong here?
Cruz did this to himself. If you are staking your entire campaign on Iowa, you play the game as Iowa plays it, and that’s ethanol. Because if you don’t get out of Iowa, nothing else matters. Cruz has a long list of flip flops, so backing ethanol from the start should not have bothered him. Really a stunning lack of political acumen by Ted. In the grand scheme, ethanol is a non issue. You say and do what you have to in Iowa to hopefully get the opportunity to solve greater problems, the way you want to when you get elected. Cruz picked the wrong hill to die on. And picking a public fight with the governor a week before the caucuses was just stupid. Ted is too green to play on the field he chose to play on.
“How his deals go with Pelosi and Shumer.”
The key to Trump’s success is that he WINS on deals...
Sadly, it sounds like Cruz thought you could not win or could not do him any good in IA based on your interaction. I am not optimistic about his chances.
I know.
I dont think he wins, its just that ‘wins’ in the sense of a Pyrrhic victory to massage his needful ego.
There was virtually no interaction. He blew me off too quickly for that.
And I subsequently got more than 26,000 votes.
But whatever. I’m just sharing my own experience.
Pure posturing...Ted Cruz is going to mop the floor with Trump and his giant industrial orange hairpiece!
Hey...ONce Trump gets in... he’ll phase out the subsidies....
Next question...
3 days left Canned Spam 3 days. Cruzers better get mom and pop, dog and cat, and the heifer out back to caucus for Cruz because thee big Donald Trump is coming to town to take it all.
The states all fight to secure their own interests - every one of them do this, and Iowa is no exception. That is the reality, whether we approve of such positions or not.
Do you think Senator Cruz or Mr. Trump could win PA if either candidate took a stand against the coal industry?
Could they win TX or OK by taking a stand against the oil industry?
Could they win Florida if they were against Orange growers?
Etc. Etc.
I hate ethanol. I am quite aware of how destructive it is, particularly for 2-cycle engines ... But, perhaps their are more ways to skin a cat. Just because Trump is not against subsidies for ethanol does not mean he won’t act to phase them out over time if he wins the presidency. Big Oil used to get massive subsidies too - and they were phased out in the 70’s - and Tax incentives are not subsidies. It is quite possible that the same incentives might be in the cards for ethanol ... But even that is still picking winners and losers. Perhaps the answer is to give such to start-ups but allow established companies to stand on their own legs, sink or swim.
“I can already hear the whining when President Trump joins with the establishment in 2017 to make deals with Reid/Pelosi.”
I’m guessing he’ll make a couple of deals, the demonrats will stab him in the back (as is their wont), and he will turn on them fang and claw.
I get your point, and I understand your passion to destroy crony capitalism and its enablers ... The problem is that Senator Cruz is such an ideologue that he may very well bulldoze his own chance for a win. His demographic appeal is neither broad nor deep - and that is a problem ... While his steadfast hard cor conservative brand may not hurt him in the primaries, it will likely sink him in the general. The fact is that a president must appeal to the entire country - not just a certain sector of its population. That is the point for having an electoral college.
Anything to see the Broncos pounded into the dirt. Living in SW Nebraska, barely 50 miles from the Colorado border, I am surrounded by Denver fans - and they are insufferable ... The dimwits around here worship sports, and football in particular, as though it were a god. I can barely stand it.
Yes. Can see that scenario.
But like Arnold, Trump will be neutered by then...
His “needful ego” has resulted in how many employed Americans? It has resulted in how many successful projects? And then, in light of those successes - both in properties and employed workers - how much more the multiple benefits that have propagated outwards, the result of secondary economic effects that spread across the various communities and demographics?
Men of vision and action tend towards large egos - although admittedly such personalities will possess both good and bad traits ... So it is that the “needful ego” cuts both ways - but that is the price of greatness and genius.
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