Republican strategist Craig Robinson, appearing on This Week in Iowa this past Sunday, said Governor Reynolds is “not really focused on her accomplishments and what the Republican legislature has done…” and stated he “would feel better about this campaign moving forward if Reynolds was more positive…”
He ended by saying “This isn’t the route I would go…this is a negative campaign from her, and it’s hard to switch…”
Last month, in an appearance on Iowa Press, former Governor Branstad’s Chief of Staff Doug Gross also joined the chorus of Republicans leaders criticizing Governor Reynolds for her continued negative campaign, labeling one of her recent negative attack ad “ineffective.”
This had followed in the footsteps of Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, who had previously criticized Governor Reynolds’ negative personal attacks on Fred, saying, “I don’t think that’s smart”, it’s “a problem,” and that she should “stick to policy.”
Governor Reynolds was the first Iowa statewide candidate to launch negative TV ads, and in her first negative ad had top Republican Party officials portray former employees of Fred in an attempt to disparage his business record. She has continued her theme of negative ads with over 10 different ads directed at Fred Hubbell in the election so far, including releasing four in a row.
“Without a positive record or vision to run on, Governor Reynolds has run a purely negative, mud-slinging campaign,” said Democratic Party Chair Troy Price. “Now, even members of her own party are criticizing her negativity, as voters reject her personal attacks that run counter to our Iowa values.”