Branstad calls attack ads work of 'desperate politicians'

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad said Monday he doesn’t regret saying he’d like to see Ted Cruz defeated in Iowa, calling new attack ads targeting him the work of “desperate politicians.”

“I’ve been attacked and I’ve been attacked regularly by a lot of people,” Branstad said. “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.”

Last week at the Renewable Fuels Summit in Altoona, Branstad told reporters that Iowans would be making a mistake in supporting Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who is a staunch opponent of the Renewable Fuel Standard.

A super PAC supporting Cruz has now targeted Branstad, launching a new YouTube and radio ad tying him to Cruz’s primary adversary in the state: businessman Donald Trump.

“Ted Cruz opposes all energy subsidies, including oil subsidies, just like any conservative should,” the ad’s narrator says. “Cruz had the guts to say it in Iowa. That terrified Gov. Branstad and the ethanol lobby. They got Trump to promote bigger ethanol subsidies and then announced that Cruz must be stopped at all costs. But America wants a leader who walks tall and stands up to the lobbyist thugs and the politicians they own.”

Courageous Conservatives PAC told The Des Moines Register it would spend $40,000 to air the radio ads on 105 stations across the state in the final week ahead of the state’s first-in-the-nation caucuses. The ad also will be posted to YouTube.

Branstad said he was responding to a direct question by a reporter and does not regret the answer.

“Nobody should be surprised this governor is proud to stand up for and fight for jobs in this state and for farm income,” he said.

Iowa Congressman Steve King, a man Branstad calls a “longtime friend,” has endorsed Cruz in Iowa and has been campaigning with him in the state.

But in the wake of the Branstad's comments, King lashed out at the governor and his son, Eric Branstad, who leads a pro-renewables lobbying group called America's Renewable Future. That group has tailed the Cruz campaign, handing out pamphlets criticizing the candidate.

King said Branstad sent his "son out to declare Ted Cruz to be a hypocrite, a liar and one who wants to hurt Iowa farmers in order to line his own pocket."

Branstad said Monday he never likes to see members of his family attacked, and he said he is proud of the work his son has done. The governor said he spoke with King on the phone this week, calling it an “instructive conversation.”

“We had a really good conversation and we’re longtime friends,” Branstad said. “So you know, this caucus is going to be over a week from tonight, and we’re going to continue to be friends.”