Ernst says she’ll support Trump, but not as running mate

CEDAR RAPIDS - Sen. Joni Ernst plans to support Donald Trump if he is the Republican presidential nominee, but not as his vice presidential running mate.

'Nobody has reached out to me, so I'm doubtful of that,” she told reporters Thursday, when asked if she is being vetted for the job.

Ernst's 23-year military career, and her attention-getting 'make 'em squeal” campaign for her U.S. Senate seat, contributed to the 45-year-old freshman Republican being mentioned as someone who could help Trump among women voters and those concerned with military and national security issues.

Ernst said she hasn't heard anything from the Trump campaign, and she's taking that as a sign that, despite the speculation, she's not being considered for the post.

'I would have thought that if that was being considered somebody would have reached out to me,” she said. 'I think he must have his eyes set on somebody else, and that's OK.”

Ernst disagreed with comments Trump made earlier this week that were interpreted as suggesting Obama had some role in terrorist acts against the U.S. However, she wouldn't call those comments a 'breaking point” in her support for the presumptive GOP nominee.

Trump will have to 'speak for himself and we may disagree on issues,” Ernst said. She doesn't agree with her Senate Republican colleagues '100 percent of the time either, but I do believe that they support more of my ideals and value than those in the Democratic caucus.”

So Ernst will continue to support Trump because 'I haven't seen anything yet to cause me to vote for Hillary Clinton,” she said. 'The ideals she supports are not the same ideals that I have.”

Ernst plans to attend the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in July to meet with Iowans who will be participating.