Iowa governor calls for anti-Cruz vote on ethanol issue

“We should not support someone”, Branstad argued, “who is opposing those things that are critically important to the economic well-being of our state”. “[Cruz] is the biggest opponent of renewable fuels”, Branstad said, according to the Des Moines Register.

Trump, however, was invited, and offered strong support for the renewable fuel standard. He’s heavily financed by “big oil”.

And Branstad bluntly replied “yes” when a reporter asked if he wanted Cruz to be defeated in Iowa.

Cruz has led a number of recent polls in the early state, but businessman Donald Trump remains nearly neck-and-neck with his 2016 rival going into the February 1 caucuses.

Donald Trump, who would benefit from a dip in Cruz’s support, tweeted his pleasure at Branstad’s comments. Renewable fuels supporters believe Cruz’s previous opposition to renewable energy supporters, along with his financial backing from oil interests in his home state Texas put his at odds with the interests of Iowa’s alternative fuel efforts.

Trump was generally very supportive of the ethanol law, saying he is “100 percent” behind the ethanol industry, a powerful force in Iowa. “I know he’s ahead in the polls, but the only poll that counts is the one they take on caucus night. People do not like Ted”.

And King criticized the work Eric Branstad, the governor’s oldest son, has been doing on behalf of a political action committee that’s been critical of Cruz’s stand on ethanol.

But censure from the governor is not necessarily a death knell for Cruz in the Hawkeye State. And on Tuesday, Iowa’s leading conservative talk-radio host Steve Deace argued that Branstad’s slight was “good news” for Cruz.

Branstad’s attack on Cruz is an extraordinary intervention in the caucus campaign. Trump is set to speak Tuesday at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit.