King tells Republicans it’s time to choose between Cruz, Trump

IOWA CITY - U.S. Rep. Steve King said he hoped the contest between Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and businessman Donald Trump for the top spot in Iowa's Feb. 1 first-in-the-nation caucus wouldn't get personal.

However, but that didn't stop him from taking a couple of shots at Trump during an appearance Weednesday in Iowa City on behalf of Cruz.

He called Trump 'erratic, (someone) who seems to want to attack everybody all of the time, anybody that threatens him,” King told about 70 people who filled the Hamburg Inn No. 2.

'This isn't the ring in the WWE,” King said. 'This is presidency of the United States, you know.”

It's not a one-sided war of words. Trump took a swing or two at Cruz on Tuesday night during a visit to the University of Iowa.

Cruz is a 'nervous wreck because he's dropping like a rock in the polls,” Trump said.

It started even earlier, according to King. After the last GOP debate 'Trump decided to just unload.”

'It's like he's obsessed to sit down and put streams of insults out on his Twitter account,” King said outside the Hamburg Inn. 'That's pretty irrational and erratic.”

He was joined by Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who has endorsed his fellow Texan. Until recently, Perry was better acquainted with the people of Iowa better than Cruz, who was his solicitor general while Perry was governor, he said.

'I know the people of Iowa rather well,” Perry said, and he thinks they want a president who has humility and gratitude and is courageous.

It's up to Iowans to put that candidate - Ted Cruz - on the path to the presidency, he said.

'The future of America is in your hands. That's a pretty heavy thing, but I'm pretty sure you're up to it,” Perry said.

Karen Fesler of Coralville, who supported Perry while he was seeking the GOP nomination, said his support may help Cruz with former Perry fans who remain undecided.

However, she added, 'endorsement are fine for a news cycle or two, but I don't think people go to caucus trying to remember who endorsed who.”

It's decision time for Iowa Republicans, King said, because 'it's going to be Cruz or it's going to be Trump.

'If you like the other candidates and you believe in the Constitution, it's time to send them a ‘thank you' card for their candidacy and vote for Cruz,” he said.