Hugs, maybe, but no body slams, new Iowa governor says

CEDAR RAPIDS — News reporters aren't likely to be body slammed by Iowa's Gov. Kim Reynolds, but she warned the media of another physical threat.

'I am a hugger,' she told a gaggle of reporters covering her 'Building a Better Iowa' visit to Signature Aviation at the Eastern Iowa Airport on Friday. 'I come by it naturally, so my instincts are not to body slam, they are to hug.'

That was evident as she worked the crowd of about 75 well-wishers, hugging and posing for pictures for more than 30 minutes after she and Acting Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg spoke.

Montana Republican congressional candidate Greg Gianforte apologized Friday for body slamming Grinnell College alumni Ben Jacobs, a reporter for the United Kingdom newspaper, the Guardian, after becoming upset with questions about health care.

Reynolds said she doubts her hugging instinct are going away.

'So, if you're not a hugger it might be a little intimidating if you see me starting to come toward you,' she said.

Read more: Reynolds, Gregg introduce themselves to Iowa