Ernst: Meeting editors not a priority

Joni Ernst on Thursday responded to Hillary Clinton’s criticism of the Iowa Republican Senate nominee for cancelling a newspaper editorial board interview, saying it is less important to meet with a “room full of editors.”

Ernst last week canceled her scheduled interview with the Des Moines Register editorial board, a move she explained by saying she knew it was not going to endorse her anyway. Clinton, appearing with Ernst’s Democratic opponent, Rep. Bruce Braley, on Wednesday called the cancellation “disqualifying.”

“I don’t think it disqualifies me at all,” Ernst told Fox News. “I sat down with their ed board during the primary. I did very well then. Again, I’m meeting with editorial boards as  I have time, but again spending time with Iowans is the most important thing, not a room full of editors sitting in an office building in Des Moines. “

Earlier in the interview, Ernst was asked if meeting with the board would help or hurt her. 

“I think that would hurt me at this point,” she said. “They made it very clear in a number of editorials that they would not be supporting my candidacy, so it is more important for me to be out on the road meeting with undecided voters across Iowa.”