![\"Governor](\"http:\/\/cdn.radioiowa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Governor-Branstad-125.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nGovernor Terry Branstad\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (file photo)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Governor Terry Branstad is crediting Ted Cruz for running an \u201cold-fashioned\u201d, 99-county campaign that yielded victory in Monday night\u2019s Iowa Caucuses, but Branstad is joining the chorus criticizing Cruz for \u201cquestionable\u201d campaign tactics.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis thing that they distributed on Caucus night saying that Dr. Carson was likely to drop out and his supporters should support Cruz, that is, I think, unethical and unfair,\u201d Branstad said this morning. \u201cI think there\u2019ll be repercussions to that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cruz has apologized to Carson, the retired neurosurgeon who finished fourth in the Caucuses on Monday night. Iowa Congressman Steve King, a Cruz backer, helped spread the drop out rumor and Branstad said King owes Carson an apology.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, we have a strong sense of fairness in Iowa,\u201d Branstad said during an interview with Radio Iowa. \u201cDistributing information that was not true about a candidate right at the time people are voting in the Caucuses is an inappropriate thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
King tweeted: \u201cCarson looks like he\u2019s out\u201d on Caucus night. King has told reporters in Washington, D.C. he had an \u201cobligation\u201d to tell Iowans about a report he\u2019d seen indicating Carson was flying home to Florida Monday night rather than going to New Hampshire. Branstad is not out personally recruiting a Republican to challenge King in a primary this June.<\/p>\n
\u201cYet I think there are a number of people in the renewable fuels industry that are not happy with (King),\u201d Branstad says. \u201cI guess time will tell what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n
Branstad is a critic of Cruz\u2019s opposition to the federal ethanol production mandate. Two weeks before the Caucuses Branstad said he hoped Cruz would be defeated \u2014 a move Congressman King blasted as a \u201cde facto endorsement\u201d of Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I did,\u201d Branstad said today of his wish for Cruz\u2019s defeat. \u201cActually, I think Trump, by skipping the debate, hurt himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Branstad\u2019s 2010 and 2014 campaign managers migrated to New Jersey Chris Christie\u2019s presidential campaign. Christie finished 10th, with fewer than 3300 votes. Branstad said Christie didn\u2019t spend enough time campaigning in Iowa.<\/p>\n
\u201cNone of the governors did well,\u201d Branstad said. \u201c\u2026Rubio came on strong at the end because people were looking for somebody new.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Caucus winner was someone Branstad opposed and Christie finished next to last, but Branstad rejects the\u00a0notion Monday\u2019s Caucus results are in any way a rebuke of him.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst of all I\u2019m not running for president. I\u2019ve never had an interest in running for president or national office,\u201d Branstad said. \u201cMy focus is on my state and jobs in my state and farm income.\u201d<\/p>\n