Both sides in Iowa‘s competitive Senate race are calling in the National Guard.
Republican candidate Joni Ernst has highlighted the fact that she served in a combat role in Iraq as a lieutenant colonel in the Guard in her ads. That background has given her something of a biography edge over her opponent, an attorney by trade.
In a new TV ad, Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley is trying to even the playing field by noting his past legislative support for the Guard.
The 30-second spot, first reported by Iowa media, highlights Braley’s effort to ensure that members of the Hawkeye State National Guard were paid for their extended deployment after a lengthy delay.
“Bruce Braley went to bat for us and made sure that we were paid,” says National Guardsman Todd Prichard in the ad.
The Iowa Senate race has become one of the surprise competitive contests of the 2014 cycle.
