DNC chairwoman: Ernst an ‘onion of crazy’

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-Fla.) called Republican Iowa Senate candidate Joni Ernst an “onion of crazy” as the race there tightens.

Speaking at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday, Wasserman-Schultz sought to tout Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa), whose support has falling dropping in the polls, and portray Ernst as extreme.

{mosads}“I know that this state is know for its wind energy, for corn, for soybeans, but that woman is an onion of crazy,” she said. “Every time you peel back a layer, you find something more disturbing about her views.”

She pointed to Ernst’s suggestion in January that President Obama should face “removal from office or impeachment,” a comment that Ernst has sought to walk back.

Wasserman-Schultz then called out Ernst’s May comment, “I do have reason to believe there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq,” which Ernst has also walked back.

In an interview with The Des Moines Register, though, Wasserman-Schultz acknowledged that Braley has faced some setbacks. 

“Look, this is a campaign,” she said. “There are going to be ups and downs in campaigns.”

She said Iowa voters would ultimately choose Braley because of the “dramatic contrast” with Ernst. 

Braley has been battling a Republican portrayal as an out-of-touch trial lawyer. The GOP has seized on a comment that surfaced in a video in March, when Braley told a group of lawyers in Texas that Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) is “a farmer from Iowa who never went to law school.”

In another twist, Republicans are saying Braley threatened to sue his neighbor over chickens wandering into his yard, which Braley denies.

In recent months, Braley has dropped from a lead in the polls to be tied or slightly behind Ernst.