By Mitch McAndrew
Freshman Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, on Monday met with the presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, who is in the process of vetting potential candidates for vice president.
Ernst did not mention any discussions of a potential VP run, instead focusing on her Senate duties.
“I had a good conversation with Donald Trump today, and we discussed what I am hearing from Iowans as I travel around the state on my 99-county tour and the best path forward for our country,” she said in a prepared statement.
Last month, she said she had not yet been contacted by Trump’s campaign about serving on the GOP’s national ticket, despite rumors that she was on Trump’s veep shortlist.
That changed on Monday, when Trump tweeted that he was “looking forward to meeting @joniernst [Monday] in New Jersey,” and that she has “done a great job as senator of Iowa.”
The meeting’s announcement on Twitter was part of a series of tweets that offered insight into the list of potential running mates that Trump is considering. One tweet said Trump also met with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, and another praised Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton for his Sunday appearance on “Meet the Press.”
“Sen. Tom Cotton was great on ‘Meet the Press’ yesterday,” Trump tweeted Monday. “Despite a totally one-sided interview by Chuck Todd, the end result was solid.”
Ernst has been the subject of Republican VP speculation since Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad said she was a strong choice for the party’s presidential ticket in May.
University of Iowa political-science Associate Professor Tim Hagle said Ernst’s veteran status offers a boost for Trump.
“That’s something Trump has emphasized,” Hagle said, referring to Trump’s outspoken support for veterans. “[Picking a veteran] brings him some credibility.”
Hagle said Ernst could also be a favorable choice for female voters, a demographic that Trump has struggled with — one Gallup Poll found that 7 in 10 females had an unfavorable view of the GOP’s presumptive nominee.
But for Ernst, accepting a Trump VP position could dim what seems like a bright political future, Hagle said.
Ernst garnered national attention during her 2014 Senate race against Democrat Bruce Braley with her TV ads, which said her time spent castrating hogs as a child would help her “make ’em squeal” in the Senate.
Her national prominence grew when she delivered the Republican response to President Obama’s 2015 State of the Union Address as a newly elected senator.
But since Ernst does not face re-election for another four years, Hagle said, she would have time to repair any political damage a Trump vice-presidential spot would bring.
“It probably helps him more than it hurts her,” he said.
Ernst said she plans to continue working with Trump, but the circumstances remain unclear.
“I will continue to share my insights with Donald about the need to strengthen our economy, keep our nation safe, and ensure America is always a strong, stabilizing force around the globe,” she said.