The two major party candidates for Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat met face-to-face in an hour long debate Sunday evening — touting their rural Iowa roots and questioning their opponent’s loyalties. Republican Joni Ernst grew up on a farm near Red Oak in southwest Iowa. Democrat Bruce Braley grew up in the small eastern Iowa town of Brooklyn, where his dad ran the grain elevator.
Each accused the other of being beholden to special interests who’re financing thousands of dollars worth of ads to try to sway Iowa voters.
Ernst also accused Braley of doing the bidding of President Obama and Harry Reid , the Democratic leader in the U.S. Senate. Braley countered with this.
The two candidates broke no new policy ground on issues like the minimum wage and immigration. Braley charged Ernst co-sponsored legislation in the Iowa Senate that ultimately would wind up banning abortion, certain forms of contraception and invitro fertilization. Ernst said she “will support life,” but she also believes “in a woman’s right to contraception.”
The latest poll shows Ernst with a small lead over Braley.
