Could Iowa Senator Joni Ernst be a Possible Running Mate for Donald Trump?

ADD ANOTHER ONE TO THE VP SHORT LIST …

Could Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst be on Donald Trump’s short list of possibly VP candidates? According to the NY Times, Trump met with Ernst in Monday in New Jersey. Other candidates include Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, former Speaker Newt Gingrich and NJ Gov. Chris Christie.

Donald J. Trump met in New Jersey on Monday with Senator Joni Ernst, Republican of Iowa, as he screens potential running mates in a series of meetings.

One person briefed on the process, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said that the campaign began vetting Ms. Ernst in recent days as a possible vice-presidential pick. But it is not clear how seriously Ms. Ernst is being considered for a position that Mr. Trump has kept close counsel about filling.

Jason Miller, a senior communications adviser for Mr. Trump, declined to comment. In a statement on Monday, Ms. Ernst confirmed that she had met with Mr. Trump.

Ms. Ernst is a retired National Guard lieutenant colonel and a veteran of the Iraq war. Her military background could help Mr. Trump given his lack of foreign policy experience or national security experience. The fact that she is a woman could also help Mr. Trump with a group of voters with whom he currently polls poorly.

Ms. Ernst is also considered a possible keynote speaker at the Republican National Convention, which begins on July 18 in Cleveland.

Republican Response to the SOTU: Newly Elected Iowa Senator Joni Ernst … “President Obama Will Soon have a Decision to make [Keystone XL Pipleline]: Will he sign the Bill or Block Good American Jobs?

JONI ERNST … A STAR IS BORN.

Tonight, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) delivered the Republican response to Barack Obama’s SOTU. The freshman Senator nailed it. In a forum that is hardly a comfortable one or easy, she came across well versed, was up to the moment and never once reached for a glass of water. As Barack Obama touted questionable economic numbers and gave the appearance that we have turned the page on the economic tough times, Joni Ernst personalized the current situation that a majority of Americans feel, that Americans are hurting and are demanding answers, not the same old stale same old, same old.

We see our neighbors agonize over stagnant wages and lost jobs. We see the hurt caused by canceled healthcare plans and higher monthly insurance bills. We see too many moms and dads put their own dreams on hold while growing more fearful about the kind of future they’ll be able to leave to their children.

“Americans have been hurting, but when we demanded solutions, too often Washington responded with the same stale mindset that led to failed policies like Obamacare. It’s a mindset that gave us political talking points, not serious solutions.

“That’s why the new Republican majority you elected started by reforming Congress to make it function again. And now, we’re working hard to pass the kind of serious job-creation ideas you deserve.

The Weekly Standard – Full Text of Republican Response to State of the Union:

“Good evening.

“I’m Joni Ernst. As a mother, a soldier, and a newly elected senator from the great State of Iowa, I am proud to speak with you tonight.

“A few moments ago, we heard the President lay out his vision for the year to come. Even if we may not always agree, it’s important to hear different points of view in this great country. We appreciate the President sharing his.

“Tonight though, rather than respond to a speech, I’d like to talk about your priorities. I’d like to have a conversation about the new Republican Congress you just elected, and how we plan to make Washington focus on your concerns again.

“We heard the message you sent in November — loud and clear. And now we’re getting to work to change the direction Washington has been taking our country.

“The new Republican Congress also understands how difficult these past six years have been. For many of us, the sting of the economy and the frustration with Washington’s dysfunction, weren’t things we had to read about. We felt them every day.

“We felt them in Red Oak — the little town in southwestern Iowa where I grew up, and am still proud to call home today.

“As a young girl, I plowed the fields of our family farm. I worked construction with my dad. To save for college, I worked the morning biscuit line at Hardees.

“We were raised to live simply, not to waste. It was a lesson my mother taught me every rainy morning.

“You see, growing up, I had only one good pair of shoes. So on rainy school days, my mom would slip plastic bread bags over them to keep them dry. (Read the rest HERE)