Democrat attacks on minimum wage in Iowa

Rep. Bruce Braley’s (D-Iowa) campaign is unleashing a series of ads welcoming back Iowa state Sen. Joni Ernst (R) after a stint of duty in the Iowa National Guard, painting her as “too extreme for Iowa.”

{mosads}Braley’s campaign released the first of the ads, slamming Ernst for opposing a federal minimum wage and an increase in Iowa’s $7.25 per hour wage.

The ad plays audio of Ernst saying “I do not support a federal minimum wage” and that she doesn’t think Iowa’s should be increased.

An accompanying memo from Braley’s campaign outlines future attacks on Social Security, Medicare, and the Renewable Energy Standard, issues Democratic outside groups have already focused on in recent ads.

The race has tightened considerably following a series of missteps by Braley, and polls show a dead heat. This is the first sustained attack from Braley and his allies to define Ernst, and whether it is effective or not could determine who holds the upper hand in the key Senate battle heading into the fall.