The Republican field of candidates continues to grow in Iowa for the seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin and lately there have been numerous reports that state Sen. Joni Ernst would soon begin exploring the race.
The conservative Ernst is soon expected to sign up pollster David Polyansky, who handled survey research for the presidential campaigns of Mike Huckabee in 2008 and Michele Bachmann in 2012.
Already the Iowa Democratic Party has put out a press release criticizing Ernst for turning to an out-of-state consultant for her unannounced campaign.
A former Montgomery County auditor and two-term state senator, the 42-year-old Ernst is an Army National Guard officer who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Should Ernst enter the Senate race, she will join a primary field that includes former U.S. Attorney Matt Whittaker and David Young, former chief of staff to Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa. The expected Democratic nominee is Rep. Bruce Braley.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax.
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