Ernst cancels meeting with Register's editorial board
Source: Des Moines Register
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst has canceled a scheduled meeting with The Des Moines Register's editorial board, citing the newspaper's recent negative editorials about the candidate.
Ernst met with the opinion writers at the Register and other Iowa newspapers before the GOP primary in June, but has declined invitations from some of the papers during the general election.
The Register's president and publisher, Rick Green, said in a statement that he's disappointed by the Ernst campaign's decision.
"This has been an incredibly nasty, competitive race where both sides have spent millions and aired tens of thousands of TV spots," Green said. "Undecided voters I talk to want Sen. Ernst to break through the rhetoric and cacophony of campaign ads about hogs, Obamacare and balanced budgets. It's a time for sharing specifics. It's a chance to have a serious conversation about vision, priorities, the economy, national security, foreign relations and Social Security."
Read more: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/2014/10/23/ernst-declines-meeting-with-register-editorial-board/17782955/
Meanwhile, the latest Quinnipiac University poll shows Ernst with a 2-point lead over Braley, with 4% voters undecided. On Monday, NPR did a piece getting viewers' reactions from the two candidates' recent debate.
"Well, I admire the fact that Sen. Ernst has served our nation and our state and the Iowa National Guard. I think it's a terrific attribute. My father was a Word War II combat veteran, and I have great respect for Sen. Ernst for serving our country."
Ernst's answer:
"And I think Congressman Braley is a great father."
The reaction from our group: "Oh, God." Most found that line to be condescending.
It turned out that our six viewers all thought Braley did better.
Loretta Sieman — a former Des Moines councilwoman and registered Republican — sounded disappointed that she couldn't be enthusiastic about the female candidate. Ernst struck her as too negative.
"At the end, he just talked about what he was going to do. She talked about what he didn't do. And that drives me crazy," she said. "As a woman, we know that we have never had a woman from Iowa so we're supposed to be involved for that. As a past councilperson, I want the right person and I don't care if they wear a skirt or pants."
Brittany Gaura, a sophomore at Iowa State, is a Young Republican; she hopes to be a veterinarian. I asked about the importance of electing a woman to the Senate: "To me, it's important to have a woman, I think, in the Senate, and from Iowa. I think a lot of women in Iowa have a lot to bring to the table — but it's not important to me right now if she's not the right woman."
Her fellow conservative in the group, businesswoman Karen Novak, agreed. "I'm looking at who's the most qualified individual. I don't care if they wear pants or a skirt, it makes no difference. I would absolutely love to get a woman in office, but only if she's the right one and she has the right qualifications," she said.
Those two Iowa women had described themselves as leaning toward Ernst before the debate. Afterward, they were leaning a little less in that direction.
Ernst must've realized how her debate performance changed voters' minds. She must be afraid that speaking with the media will cost her more votes.
Media Matters: Iowa Newspapers Speak Out Over Joni Ernst Snubbing Them
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