Iowa gov: Cruz allies look ‘desperate’ attacking me

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) said Monday that a new ad criticizing him makes Ted Cruz and his allies look “desperate.”

“[They look like] desperate politicians,” he said of a clip released on radio and YouTube that morning, according to The Des Moines Register. “I’ve been attacked regularly, and I’ve been attacked regularly by a lot of people.

{mosads}“But that doesn’t bother me, because I recognize my responsibility is to the people of Iowa and to be an advocate and a supporter of things that are important to them,” he added of the spot produced by a super-PAC aligned with Cruz, a GOP presidential candidate. “Nobody should be surprised this governor is proud to stand up for and fight for jobs in this state and for farm income.”

Courageous Conservative PAC released a campaign ad early Monday linking Branstad with Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump. The commercial — titled “Branstad Family Values” — accuses him of cronyism on behalf of Iowa’s ethanol industry.

“Ted Cruz opposes all energy subsidies, including oil subsidies, just like any conservative should,” the ad’s narrator said.

“Cruz had the guts to say it in Iowa,” she continued. “That terrified Gov. Branstad and the ethanol lobby. Ted Cruz can’t be bought and they hate him for it.

“America wants a leader who walks tall and stands up against the lobbyist thugs and the politicians they own. Branstad and Trump, Branstad values, Trump values.”

The clip’s release throws more fuel on the fire raging between Cruz and Trump for voter support in Iowa’s caucuses next week. 

Branstad urged Iowa voters last week to oppose Cruz over his opposition towards the federal renewable fuel mandate. The measure has strong support in Iowa, the nation’s leading ethanol producer. 

Trump, meanwhile, supports raising the amount of ethanol the federal government mandates for the nation’s gasoline supply.