One of the GOP's brightest female stars is dogged by Trump in 2020 [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst will have to outrun the president, whose trade war has damaged his standing in the state.

By MARIANNE LEVINE 03/31/2019 06:57 AM EDT

ADEL, Iowa — Joni Ernst had barely kicked off a town hall one recent morning when the barrage of complaints about Donald Trump began.

One after one, constituents grilled the first-term Republican senator about the president — his attacks on John McCain, his emergency declaration at the border and why Ernst hasn’t stood up to him more often.

“Other senators are speaking up, criticizing Trump and defending McCain, but I have yet to hear one word from you,” one man implored her. “Is there no line Trump can cross that would cause you to break ranks with him?”

Ernst kept her cool as she answered the 30 people who trekked to a high school auditorium on the outskirts of Des Moines to hear her. But she was emphatic: “Oh, I break ranks with President Trump quite a bit.” After defending McCain, she said, “So right there — there you have it.”

More:
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/31/joni-ernst-trump-2020-iowa-senate-1244074