Mr. Romney goes to Iowa

As the Senate race in Iowa heats up, former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney flew to the state to help Republican candidate Joni Ernst, who is only slightly ahead in recent polls.

{mosads}Iowa voters received a post card last week announcing the fly-in by the former Massachusetts governor, who will be campaigning with Ernst and making two stops on her “Iowa Knows Best” tour.

“Incompetence in Washington is really holding back America,” Ernst said in a statement. “Mitt cares deeply about the future of our nation.”

Ernst is battling with Democrat Bruce Braley for a Senate seat left open by outgoing Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin. An average of several current polls focusing on the race puts her less than a single percentage point ahead of Braley.

Republicans only need to pick up six Senate seats in order to gain the majority, and the GOP candidate hopes to leverage a growing disapproval with President Obama to help her win on Nov. 4. Early voting is already underway in the state.

Romney will join the candidate at an event at the Iowa Farm Bureau Headquarters on Sunday. The duo will then appear at a Cedar Rapids Marriott event on Monday. Ernst is also bringing Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds to each event.