Governor’s son to lead Trump campaign in Iowa

DES MOINES - Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's election efforts in Iowa will be spearheaded by the governor's son, according to a media report.

Eric Branstad, the son of six-term Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, will manage Trump's general election campaign in Iowa, the National Review first reported Wednesday.

Neither Eric Branstad nor the Trump campaign immediately responded to messages seeking confirmation Wednesday.

Trump is the Republican Party's presumptive nominee for president. If confirmed at the party's national convention next month, the billionaire businessman and reality television star likely will face former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Democrats' presumptive nominee, in November.

Eric Branstad is owner and partner in Matchpoint Strategies, a Des Moines public relations and fundraising firm.

During the Iowa caucuses, Eric Branstad served as state director for an advocacy group that pushed presidential candidates to support the national ethanol mandate. That group, America's Renewable Future, was critical of Republican candidate and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz for his support for a phase-out of the ethanol mandate.

Cruz finished first and Trump second in the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses. Iowa was one of 14 states where Trump did not win the GOP primary or caucus.

Gov. Branstad in recent weeks has defended and supported Trump as the Republican nominee for president. During speeches at state party events, he has used Trump's campaign slogan, 'Make America great again,” and in news conferences, he has defended or deflected some of Trump's comments that have drawn widespread criticism, including from Republicans.