Watching Republican reaction to how the Democratic primary in Iowa’s gubernatorial race has been instructive. I’m confident that Fred Hubbell will be the Democratic nominee after Tuesday’s primary carrying more than 35 percent to avoid a special nominating convention. The Democrat establishment is coalescing around him, polling suggests it, his closest competitor – Nate Boulton – is no longer in the race, and he’s peppered the airwaves.Ā I would be shocked if that were not the case.
What will be the Republican strategy and messaging for handling Hubbell?
I’ve seen two primary messages thus far.
Paint Hubbell as an elitist.
Fred Hubbell is rich. He is not self-made but inherited his wealth. He can self-fund and has, in fact, wrote checks totaling $2.1 Million in the last reporting period.
Does Hubbell remind you of somebody?
Isn’t our current president, whom Republicans nominated, a beneficiary of inherited wealth? Contrary to popular belief among those on the Trump Train, President Trump inherited a fortune. He built up that fortune, but he can’t say he started from nothing.
President Trump also self-funded his campaign and that was touted as a positive among Republicans.
Here’s a sampling of Republican messaging directed at “Prince Frederick.” Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann has been particularly obnoxious about it.
I wonder if Sir Frederick Hubbell, the Prince of Polk County, received an invite to the #RoyalWeddingĀ this weekend? #iapolitics #iagov #HubbellBubble
— Jeff Kaufmann (@kaufmannGOP) May 19, 2018
For months, Fred had millions of dollars spent on TV to do the talking for him, but now that he has to do it himself – he literally canāt find the words. Living in his own bubble can work for south of Grand, but not for the rest of Iowa. #iagov #iapolitics https://t.co/N15JayK8cj
— Jeff Kaufmann (@kaufmannGOP) May 17, 2018
Tune in tonight to see the final auction for the #IAGov Democrat nomination – or in other words, Prince Frederick's final coronation as he's written all the checks he needs to buy this race outright. #HubbellBubble #iapolitics
— Jeff Kaufmann (@kaufmannGOP) May 30, 2018
As expected, tonight served as a final coronation for Sir Frederick Hubbell to be the Democrat nominee, meaning they'll once again have an elitist, out of touch candidate at the top of the ticket. #iagov #iapolitics
— Jeff Kaufmann (@kaufmannGOP) May 31, 2018
Tonight's debate was a throwback session on the failures of the past. We look forward to seeing how Prince Frederick tries to connect with blue collar, middle-class Iowans as Republicans prepare to run on our successful record this November. #iagov #iapolitics https://t.co/wIguzEnOrC
— Jeff Kaufmann (@kaufmannGOP) May 31, 2018
What to expect in the last #IAGOV Democrat debate? Sir Frederick Hubbell will receive his final coronation after buying the primary – and you won't find any concrete vision for Iowa. https://t.co/JLi1noJAhv #iapolitics #HubbellBubble
— Iowa GOP (@IowaGOP) May 30, 2018
Along these lines, they also highlighted what one of Hubbell’s primary opponents, John Norris, said about Hubbell which was smart.
Don't just take it from us. Democrat John Norris on the real @FredHubbell :
"Quintessential Des Moines"
"Doesnāt connect with small business owners"
"Really has no connection to those rural communities and rural Iowans"Watch more ā¬ļø #HubbellBubble #iapolitics #iagov pic.twitter.com/YwvF6saPRz
— Iowa GOP (@IowaGOP) May 29, 2018
The “Fred Hubbell is an elitist” messaging would probably be useful if Donald Trump were not President, but he is, and it rings hollow.
The second line of messaging will be more effective than the first.
Hubbell hates tax cuts.
Hubbell has waffled on the tax reform bill that was passed in the Iowa Legislature and signed into law by Governor Reynolds last week.
The Iowa GOP pointed out that Hubbell told the Des Moines Register’s editorial board he would not have signed the tax reform bill, but during the first debate did not say whether or not he would support repealing the measure.
.@FredHubbell's all over the place on taxes.
Today: Hubbell called for the tax cuts to be repealed.
Two days ago: Watch for yourself. #iagov #iapolitics pic.twitter.com/7cuRPgMXR9
— Iowa GOP (@IowaGOP) May 18, 2018
They mention this again leading up to the last debate:
.@FredHubbell once again reminds voters of his negative and bitter campaign against Governor Reynolds – but itās not without his focus group answers. Maybe heāll finally have a definitive answer on repealing tax cuts tonight? #iagov #iapolitics #HubbellBubble
— Iowa GOP (@IowaGOP) May 30, 2018
.@FredHubbell just wonāt lead on taxes.
Hubbell continues to attack the tax cuts but wonāt commit to repealing them himself.#iagov #iapolitics #HubbellBubble
— Iowa GOP (@IowaGOP) May 31, 2018
The tax reform package is undoubtedly something that Republicans can run on as a promise kept (even if many of us feel they could have gone further).
The talking point about Hubbell that is missing.
One talking point that should be hammered day in and day out if Hubbell wins the nomination is this.
Fred Hubbell is so extreme on abortion that he was the chairman of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland.
Why has this not been a part of Republican messaging?
He’s not just “pro-choice,” but he was the freaking chairman of Iowa’s largest baby killing organization.
Hubbell is not hiding from this fact; he tweeted last week:
When I was chair of @PPHeartland, a catholic nun leading Mercy Hospital asked me to serve on their board, I told her would, but would not step down from that position. She told me we agreed on more than we disagreed on- thatās the kind of unity Iād bring to the table as #iagov.
— Fred Hubbell (@FredHubbell) May 31, 2018
Democrats are going to talk about this issue; they are going to paint Governor Kim Reynolds as extreme on abortion because she signed the fetal heartbeat bill. Ā Republicans shouldn’t cede any ground by remaining silent.
He chaired an organization that expanded abortion access through webcam abortions. He headed an organization that opposes any restriction to abortion including a waiting period and late-term abortions.
I don’t pretend that a majority of Iowans believe abortion should be outlawed outright, but it’s unlikely that a majority believes in taxpayer-funded, elective abortion on demand at all stages of the pregnancy with no oversight or accountability like Planned Parenthood does.
That is how extreme Fred Hubbell is, and Republicans should tell Iowans that.