Foreign Relations Committee members quick to mention Iowa connection at Branstad ambassador hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Gov. Terry Branstad was the one in the hot seat Tuesday at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing as he sought confirmation to become ambassador to China.

But it was senators on the committee who were playing their Iowa cards during the two-hour discourse that lacked the acrimony sometimes seen in confirmation hearings on other President Donald Trump appointees.

'We are honored to have so many people here today,” Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tennessee, said as he opened the hearing. 'I do wonder what's happening back in Iowa today with the governor and two senators and so many distinguished individuals here.”

Branstad staffers said the governor did not have close relationships with any Foreign Relations Committee members. However, a couple of them have spent considerable time in Iowa.

Sen. Time Kaine, a Virginia Democrat who campaigned in Iowa as Hillary Clinton's running mate, was quick to make the Iowa connection when he had five minutes for questions.

'I've got good Democratic friends in Iowa who give you high marks - at least as high as they're going to give somebody on the other side, I'll be honest,” said Kaine, adding that he was happy to support Branstad as ambassador.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was one of the many Republican presidential hopefuls who took up residency in Iowa in 2015 and early 2016 ahead of the first-in-the-nation caucuses.

'As you know I spent some time in Iowa over the last year-and-a-half,” Rubio deadpanned.

'We, too, went to the fair,” he said, referring to the Iowa State Fair that Branstad had just mentioned when telling Kaine how when then-candidate Donald Trump visited he had pointed out the wind turbine on the fairgrounds.

'My kids enjoyed it very much. They wanted to know why we didn't go this year,” Rubio said.

'We miss you,” Branstad replied as the room erupted in laughter. 'You're always welcome.”

The state fair visit was educational, Rubio said.

'I asked them what they learned at the fair,” Rubio continued. 'One thing that one of my kids said was, ‘We learned that you can fry anything.'”

'Even butter,” Branstad said.

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