The Branstad presence on the ballot...

[Senator Cris]

As said by TheHawk, the Branstad presence on the ballot will give Ernst "a small, but significant push"?

Discuss!

[LeBron]

Considering the Senate race will be the first seat on the ballot, it won't make all that much of a factor. Even if it did, it wouldn't help her much since Branstad isn't as popular as he used to be given his corruption scandals and the fact that he's facing a weak Democrat can be bypassed for the fact that just below Branstad are popular Democratic incumbents Tom Miller and Michael Fitzgerald who will coast to re-election.

Now Branstad or Reynolds could certainly hold a few fundraisers with Ernst maybe, but otherwise, she's on her own here, and will only be able to beat Braley on the basis of his flop of a campaign. Besides, people aren't going to vote for Ernst because they voted for Branstad. Senate and Governor races are two different things.

[NHLiberal]

Considering the Senate race will be the first seat on the ballot, it won't make all that much of a factor. Even if it did, it wouldn't help her much since Branstad isn't as popular as he used to be given his corruption scandals and the fact that he's facing a weak Democrat can be bypassed for the fact that just below Branstad are popular Democratic incumbents Tom Miller and Michael Fitzgerald who will coast to re-election.

Now Branstad or Reynolds could certainly hold a few fundraisers with Ernst maybe, but otherwise, she's on her own here, and will only be able to beat Braley on the basis of his flop of a campaign. Besides, people aren't going to vote for Ernst because they voted for Branstad. Senate and Governor races are two different things.

^Everything he/she just said, mainly the first sentence

[Brittain33]

"Reverse coattails" don't exist.

[IceSpear]

Coattails only exist when a higher office is dragging up lower offices. Senate and gubernatorial races are roughly equal in terms of importance, so one probably isn't going to effect the other.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Is Branstad popular enough to bring anyone to the polls to vote who wouldn't otherwise?  That is the way this would happen.

[moderatevoter]

Despite Branstad's mild dip in poll numbers, he seems to have rebounded. Not to mention, Hatch is not a great candidate for the Democrats.