Iowa state Sen Joni Ernst – the Republican U.S. Senate nominee who, in her attention-grabbing ad above, promised to go to D.C. and rely on her experience of castrating hogs to "cut pork" and rein in government spending – is making good on her promise to "make 'em squeal."
Ernst isn't in D.C. (yet), but she is effectively making Democrats squeal right there in Iowa as she forges though her battle against Democrat Bruce Braley, seeking to replace retiring liberal Sen. Tom Harkin. To the surprise of the Democratic Party, Ernst is reliably polling ahead of or remaining in a dead heat with Braley, and castrating what political analysts touted would be a "safe Democratic" situation.
As Breitbart reported back in June, Ernst consistently led Braley in three separate polls. Braley did himself an injustice when he found it fit to denigrate Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley as well as Iowan farmers. He remarked that if Republicans won in the Senate, the Senate could possibly end up with "a farmer from Iowa who never went to law school, never practiced law, serving as the next chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee." He apologized, but Braley's negativity and insensitivity in this campaign have been very pronounced. Strategists point out that his approach is causing him more harm than good.
Apparently, negativity and insensitivity aren't cutting it. And so far, money hasn't had the expected outcome in keeping Ernst at bay. According to a Marist poll in July, despite Republicans being outspent $1.5 million to $755,000, Ernst and Braley were neck and neck.
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Then in August, a USA Today/ Suffolk University poll found the candidates locked in a dead heat. And even independents are almost split down the middle as "39 percent said they would vote for Ernst against 36 percent supporting Braley."
Now in September, less than 2 months out from the election, a CNN poll reveals, "[I]f the election were held today, 49 percent of likely Iowa voters say they would vote for Braley and 48 percent said they would support Ernst. " Only 1 point separates the candidates. This is remarkable because, well, according to Iowa Democrats, this is not supposed to be happening. Apparently, their presumably "safe Democratic" seat is considerably less safe with Joni Ernst in the race.
And the Democrats are squealing.
National Review columnist Joel Gehrke offers an expert account of Ernst's campaign, her rise to become a formidable contender, her backers and her ability to unite the moderate and conservative wings of the GOP. Gehrke also spotlights what goes wrong when an opponent – in this case, Braley – runs a campaign primarily on negativity, even with more than twice the amount of financial backing than his opponent.
First off, Ernst beat her wealthy GOP opponent, Mark Jacobs, who, Gehrke points out, outspent Ernst 10 to 1 by dropping over $1 million of his own money into the race. Until Jacobs loaned his campaign money, the net contributions of both candidates were close. And in spite of the loan, Ernst won the candidacy.
Then Ernst secured the backing of former governors and GOP presidential-ticket candidates Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney, accentuating her ability to wield a semblance of unity between conservative/moderate Republicans. Gehrke notes that since Palin represents the tea party and Romney is quintessential GOP establishment, Ernst gained momentum from both wings of the party. Ernst has acquired more strength as a candidate from the onset of her campaign, effectively working both ends of the GOP spectrum as she connects with party activists and forthrightly refutes the notion of a "safe Democrat" in this heated race.
This race promises to be one of the most competitive, especially for the GOP's hope to win a Senate majority. Democrats are not safe in this race and are pulling out all stops to appeal to voters, particularly independents. Sen. Harkin's final steak fry fundraiser headlined by the Clintons was in part to raise money for Braley in an attempt to overtake Ernst, but both the GOP and leading conservative groups are raising funds to see Ernst through to victory.
"She says she's going to go to Washington and make them squeal," Harkin said. "That's not how you get things done."
On the contrary, Senator, she's already getting it done. If Joni Ernst's campaign is indicative of what we can expect of her in Washington, then prepare to watch her make the big spenders squeal, something she is expertly equipped to do both on and off the campaign trail.
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