Sen. Joni Ernst, Iraq War vet, part of Trump VP speculation

The first female combat veteran to serve in the Senate has some high-profile support in the hottest political guessing game of the moment: Who will be Donald Trump's running mate?

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, received the endorsement of her state's Republican governor, Terry Branstad, on Monday, with Branstad telling reporters he hoped to make Ernst's case personally to Trump before July's Republican convention in Cleveland.
"I think that if you want to put together an ideal profile of somebody who would be a great vice presidential candidate, she would be helpful to Republicans in Iowa, as well," Branstad said, according to the Des Moines Register. The governor said he's reached out to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and other top Trump team members to speak on behalf of Ernst, who retired from the Iowa National Guard as a lieutenant colonel in November.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, the GOP's 2008 nominee, called Ernst a "tremendous" choice during a CNN interview after a reporter brought her up as a possible vice presidential nominee. McCain also mentioned House Speaker Paul Ryan, who seconded 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney, as a strong choice, before adding, "I'm not sure he would want to do that again."

The speculation surrounding Ernst, who served as a company commander in Iraq and Kuwait in 2003, resembles that surrounding more than a dozen Republican politicians who could join a Trump ticket.
Some familiar faces have taken themselves out of consideration — Sen. Marco Rubio ruled himself out, and McCain joked to CNN that he wasn't interested, claiming "no education in the second kick of a mule." But a variety of lawmakers (Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn), governors (Christie, Ohio's John Kasich, New Mexico's Suzanna Martinez) and others (former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin) have joined Ernst on one or more lists of potential Trump running mates.

Ernst told Politico she was "focusing on Iowa right now" but did not take herself out of the VP sweepstakes. Some likely reasons why she's part of it:


•Trump told CNBC on May 5 that he was seeking someone who "could get legislation through," which points toward the House or Senate.
•Trump has expressed his support for service members and veterans on multiple occasions, but has come under fire from McCain and others for his comments regarding captured troops and for his refusal to account fully for millions in donations his campaign pledged would go to veterans groups after a February fundraiser. Ernst's experience in uniform and as a Senate Armed Services Committee member could blunt such criticism.
•Trump lost the Iowa caucus to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and could use support in the battleground state during the general election.
•Trump's supporters, many of whom have identified as angry at or dissatisfied with the federal government in exit polling, may be swayed by Ernst's well-known pledge to make Washington leaders "squeal" — part of a 2014 campaign commercial involving pig castration that launched the senator's successful election effort.

Ernst appeared with Rubio in Iowa in the early stages of the GOP presidential nomination campaign, but did not expressly endorse her fellow senator.

The Iowan would not be the first Iraq War vet in Congress enlisted by the Trump campaign: In March, the prospective GOP nominee tapped California Rep. Duncan Hunter, one of the first elected U.S. officials to endorse Trump, to assist with legislative outreach efforts. Hunter deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan as a Marine and has been active in multiple military issues during his time in the House.