Todd Dorman
Jul. 27, 2023 5:00 am
U.S.
President Donald Trump embraces Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds during an Oct. 9, 2018, rally in Council Bluffs. The governor said she intends to thank Trump for allowing summer sales of E15 ethanol and for federal flood aid but share her concerns — when he visits Iowa next week — about his plans to impose tariffs on Mexico. (Reuters)
Maybe you, like me, have been munching a big tub of popcorn while enjoying the tiff between former President Donald Trump and Gov. Kim Reynolds.
On Tuesday, Reynolds released the schedule for her “Fair Side Chats,” where she will be “interviewing” Republican presidential candidates at the Iowa State Fair. Trump and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are not on the itinerary.
That’s not a surprise. A couple of weeks ago, peeved by Reynolds’ pledge to remain neutral in Iowa’s caucus contest, Trump indignantly claimed credit on his social media platform, Truth Social, for Reynolds becoming governor.
“I opened up the Governor position for Kim Reynolds, & when she fell behind, I ENDORSED her, did big Rallies, & she won,” Trumped truthed. “Now, she wants to remain ‘NEUTRAL.’ I don’t invite her to events!”
Last week, Trump doubled down.
"With Kim, I helped her get elected," Trump said in a WHO Radio interview "I would say that without me she would not be governor."
Reynolds responded by saying Iowa voters made her governor.
“I owe it to Iowans who actually put their trust in me,” Reynolds told reporters. “They put their trust in me in 2018. It was a tough year for Republicans.”
It’s true Trump’s appointment of former Gov. Terry Branstad as ambassador to China opened the door for Reynolds to become governor in 2017. But Reynolds’ 2018 win was unusually narrow for an Iowa gubernatorial race. The backlash against Trump in the midterms likely hurt Reynolds. Had Democrat Fred Hubbell has been a more compelling candidate, Reynolds could have lost. It was the closest gubernatorial election since Branstad beat Lowell Junkins in 1986.
So, not surprisingly, Trump is mostly full of it. His criticism of Reynolds is not like anything we’ve seen before in caucus history. But “unlike anything we’ve seen before” is a common way to start any sentence about Trump.
This is the thank she gets. Reynolds has embraced Trump tightly since 2016. She’s been loyal to the former president to a fault, even refusing to condemn Trump’s role in the invasion of the U.S. Capitol. She’s happily received his endorsements. Now she’s caught in the usual cycle of loyal Trumpers who get thrown under the bus as soon as he decides they’ve crossed him. When will they learn?
I’s like to say I’m sorry this happened, but my mouth is full of popcorn.
Top leaders in both parties have largely remained neutral during caucus campaigns. That neutrality sends a message that the fix isn’t in and every candidate can have a fair shot. It’s a tradition seldom broken.
But Trump is right when he senses that Reynolds is enamored with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. She’s copied much of his agenda, making Iowa Florida North.
I’ve heard Iowa Republicans say this will hurt Trump. Count me as doubtful. The Real Clear Politics poling average still has Trump with a 31.7 percent lead in Iowa. DeSantis has made little headway. If Iowa Republicans will tolerate thousands of lies, reckless decisions, a riot and multiple indictments why should this change their minds?
Still, Trump could lose Iowa. But that may not matter, just as it didn’t in 2016. Trump is set to appear at Friday night’s big Lincoln Dinner. Grab some popcorn.
www.thegazette.com
Jul. 27, 2023 5:00 am
U.S.
President Donald Trump embraces Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds during an Oct. 9, 2018, rally in Council Bluffs. The governor said she intends to thank Trump for allowing summer sales of E15 ethanol and for federal flood aid but share her concerns — when he visits Iowa next week — about his plans to impose tariffs on Mexico. (Reuters)
Maybe you, like me, have been munching a big tub of popcorn while enjoying the tiff between former President Donald Trump and Gov. Kim Reynolds.
On Tuesday, Reynolds released the schedule for her “Fair Side Chats,” where she will be “interviewing” Republican presidential candidates at the Iowa State Fair. Trump and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are not on the itinerary.
That’s not a surprise. A couple of weeks ago, peeved by Reynolds’ pledge to remain neutral in Iowa’s caucus contest, Trump indignantly claimed credit on his social media platform, Truth Social, for Reynolds becoming governor.
“I opened up the Governor position for Kim Reynolds, & when she fell behind, I ENDORSED her, did big Rallies, & she won,” Trumped truthed. “Now, she wants to remain ‘NEUTRAL.’ I don’t invite her to events!”
Last week, Trump doubled down.
"With Kim, I helped her get elected," Trump said in a WHO Radio interview "I would say that without me she would not be governor."
Reynolds responded by saying Iowa voters made her governor.
“I owe it to Iowans who actually put their trust in me,” Reynolds told reporters. “They put their trust in me in 2018. It was a tough year for Republicans.”
It’s true Trump’s appointment of former Gov. Terry Branstad as ambassador to China opened the door for Reynolds to become governor in 2017. But Reynolds’ 2018 win was unusually narrow for an Iowa gubernatorial race. The backlash against Trump in the midterms likely hurt Reynolds. Had Democrat Fred Hubbell has been a more compelling candidate, Reynolds could have lost. It was the closest gubernatorial election since Branstad beat Lowell Junkins in 1986.
So, not surprisingly, Trump is mostly full of it. His criticism of Reynolds is not like anything we’ve seen before in caucus history. But “unlike anything we’ve seen before” is a common way to start any sentence about Trump.
This is the thank she gets. Reynolds has embraced Trump tightly since 2016. She’s been loyal to the former president to a fault, even refusing to condemn Trump’s role in the invasion of the U.S. Capitol. She’s happily received his endorsements. Now she’s caught in the usual cycle of loyal Trumpers who get thrown under the bus as soon as he decides they’ve crossed him. When will they learn?
I’s like to say I’m sorry this happened, but my mouth is full of popcorn.
Top leaders in both parties have largely remained neutral during caucus campaigns. That neutrality sends a message that the fix isn’t in and every candidate can have a fair shot. It’s a tradition seldom broken.
But Trump is right when he senses that Reynolds is enamored with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. She’s copied much of his agenda, making Iowa Florida North.
I’ve heard Iowa Republicans say this will hurt Trump. Count me as doubtful. The Real Clear Politics poling average still has Trump with a 31.7 percent lead in Iowa. DeSantis has made little headway. If Iowa Republicans will tolerate thousands of lies, reckless decisions, a riot and multiple indictments why should this change their minds?
Still, Trump could lose Iowa. But that may not matter, just as it didn’t in 2016. Trump is set to appear at Friday night’s big Lincoln Dinner. Grab some popcorn.
Grab the popcorn for Trump-Reynolds fight
U.S. President Donald Trump embraces Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds during an Oct. 9, 2018, rally in Council Bluffs. The governor …
www.thegazette.com
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