Democrats charged in a Friday memo that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is leading the Republican Party, and that his “brand of conservatism” will hurt Republicans running for office in Iowa in 2014.
{mosads}The memo, issued by the Democratic National Committee and the campaign committees for both chambers and the party’s governors, came as Cruz is slated to headline a Friday night fundraising dinner in Des Moines, Iowa.
“Make no mistake: Ted Cruz is leading the Republican Party. Candidates want to be him. Incumbents are afraid of him. The Republican Party base is energized by him,” the memo reads.
It’s the latest effort from Democrats to make Cruz the face of the GOP, believing backlash against him and the recent government shutdown will be detrimental to Republicans in 2014. In the memo, Democrats indicate that they plan to make Cruz and the shutdown an issue for Republicans up and down the ballot in Iowa in 2014.
Republicans are looking at the Iowa Senate race as a possible pickup opportunity. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) is retiring next year, and the Republican who emerges from a crowded primary will face off against Rep. Bruce Braley (D).
The Democratic memo argues that support for the government shutdown by some of the Republican Senate candidates will hurt their chances in 2014, and that Iowa GOP Reps. Tom Latham and Steve King could suffer from the shutdown as well.
Democrats also warn that the shutdown could hurt Gov. Terry Branstad’s (R) chances at reelection, and that support of “Cruz-like policies” from Iowa state legislators will help Democrats take back the Iowa state House next year.