California-bashing is a constant presence on Iowa campaign trail

Regardless of the Iowa caucuses going down 1,700 miles away from California — and the temperature being a lot colder right here — the Golden State, its elected leaders and its insurance policies had been a continuing goal within the lead as much as the primary presidential nominating contest within the nation Monday.

Former Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) might be a “hedge fund maven,” given how a lot cash she has made within the inventory market whereas in workplace, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis instructed Iowans. He accused GOP rival Nikki Haley, the previous U.N. ambassador, of telling extra lies and being “extra liberal than Gavin Newsom.” Haley mentioned she is as afraid of a Kamala Harris presidency as she is of one other time period for former President Trump.

Bashing California, one of the vital liberal states within the nation, is a grand custom within the GOP. However Republican presidential candidates could also be concentrating on the state and its politicians extra this cycle as a result of they’re a greater goal than President Biden.

“Biden isn’t as motivating a villain as different Democrats may be. So the Republican candidates are basically operating a adverse marketing campaign in opposition to California,” mentioned Dan Schnur, a politics professor at USC, UC Berkeley and Pepperdine.

He pointed to DeSantis’ assault on Haley throughout a debate final week as proof.

“The very worst factor Ron DeSantis may consider to say about Nikki Haley throughout the debate was that she may be extra liberal than Gavin Newsom,” Schnur added. “For an Iowa Republican — or any Republican for that matter — that’s a completely terrifying idea.”

California was as soon as a Republican stronghold, launching the political careers of Presidents Nixon and Reagan. However conservative assaults on the state have ramped up within the many years since Reagan left workplace.

In 2002, former President George H.W. Bush even apologized for referring to American Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh as “some misguided Marin County hot-tubber.” By 2012, California was probably the most disliked state of any within the nation, based on ballot of People by Public Coverage Polling. About 44% of these surveyed mentioned they considered the state unfavorably.

At this time, GOP fundraising appeals bleat in regards to the state’s residents — particularly Hollywood celebrities and tech billionaires — fueling Democratic campaigns, although the state additionally supplies an outsize quantity of political donations to Republican candidates.

This electoral cycle, DeSantis in contrast Haley to Newsom, whom he debated in November, at a CNN face-off in Des Moines final week.

DeSantis introduced up Pelosi whereas lamenting the shortage of guidelines on members of Congress whereas campaigning at Jethro’s BBQ in Ames.

“I simply suppose we have now an issue with Congress … they’re nearly indifferent from the folks. They reside beneath totally different guidelines,” he mentioned, including that he has not traded shares since being elected to workplace and in contrast himself to Pelosi. “They make a killing out there … and I don’t suppose the congressmen ought to be capable of be doing the inventory trades. I believe we have to reform that.”

Haley raised Harris, the present vice chairman and former U.S. senator and state lawyer basic, as she mentioned why she believes Trump shouldn’t be reelected president.

“Y’all understand it, chaos follows him. And we are able to’t be a rustic in disarray and have a world on fireplace and undergo 4 extra years of chaos as a result of we received’t survive it,” she instructed supporters at an occasion area in Ankeny. “You don’t defeat Democrat chaos with Republican chaos. And the opposite factor we’d like to consider: We are able to by no means afford a President Kamala Harris.”

California ought to overhaul its fiscal state of affairs and insurance policies earlier than questioning why Iowa ought to have such an vital position in deciding on the nation’s presidential nominees, mentioned former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, who has household connections to California and has spent substantial time within the state.

“Possibly you must get your home so as. California has obtained the most important deficit and California is transferring within the unsuitable path,” Branstad mentioned in an interview. “California has obtained a lot going for it. It’s a fantastic state, it’s got nice climate and all that stuff. However now individuals are leaving due to the tax burden and the hostility and all of the rules.”