Senate Conservatives Fund makes Iowa pick

Republican state Sen. Joni Ernst picked up the endorsement of the Senate Conservatives Fund in her bid for Senate in Iowa.

{mosads}“There are other good candidates in this race, but Joni Ernst stands above the rest. She’s a principled conservative, she has strong grassroots support in the state, and she can win this race if she gets her message out,” said Executive Director Matt Hoskins of the endorsement. “If elected, Joni Ernst will fight to cut wasteful spending, repeal Obamacare, and balance the budget.”

The group plans to raise $50,000 for her from its members to boost her bid to succeed retiring Sen. Tom Harkin (D). 

Ernst has backing from both the establishment and conservative wings of the party in her bid, nabbing endorsements from 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney as well as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

She’s been running even or slightly ahead with the other front-runner in the race, self-funding businessman Mark Jacobs, in most polls.

They’re facing two other candidates in the primary, and if no candidate wins 35 percent on the June 3 primary the GOP will choose its nominee in a mid-summer party convention, giving Democratic candidate Rep. Bruce Braley more time to campaign uncontested.