Romney, Michelle Obama headed to Iowa

Former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney and first lady Michelle Obama are heading to Iowa to boost their parties’ Senate candidates, a sign of how crucial the Hawkeye State has become to Senate control.

Romney will stump with Iowa state Sen. Joni Ernst (R) on Oct. 12-13. Meanwhile, the first lady will rally with Rep. Bruce Braley (D) at Drake University in Des Moines on Friday.

The 2012 nominee was an early and ardent Ernst supporter, endorsing her before the primary — and before most other national Republicans had gotten behind her.

{mosads}Ernst and Braley are locked in a tight race. A new NBC News poll out Sunday found Ernst slightly leading Braley, 46 to 44 percent.

Other marquee politicians in both parties have visited or will visit Iowa, a key early-voting presidential primary state that might also hold the key to Senate control this fall. Vice President Biden is also boosting Braley with a Hollywood fundraiser this evening.

President Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton already visited Iowa for retiring Sen. Tom Harkin’s (D) final Steak Fry, a fundraising event for the party. A number of potential 2016 GOP presidential candidates have stumped for Ernst, most recently Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio).

Romney has also been mentioned as a potential candidate, though most believe that’s unlikely.