Walker aide criticized for her doubts about Iowa’s political clout

DES MOINES — The chairman of the Iowa Republican Party has lashed out at a new member of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s political team for questioning the state’s role in the presidential nominating process.

Iowa GOP chairman Jeff Kaufmann told The Associated Press he was troubled by veteran Republican strategist Liz Mair’s recent comments about the state’s political clout.

“Her statements are not only incorrect, they’re rather juvenile, they’re naive, they’re ignorant,” he said.

Walker’s team recently tapped Mair to lead online communication efforts as he ramps up for a 2016 Republican presidential bid. He has been a regular visitor to Iowa in recent months.

In January, Mair took to Twitter to complain about an event in the state hosted by Iowa Rep. Steve King, a favorite of the GOP’s farright flank.

“In other news, I see Iowa is once again embarrassing itself, and the GOP, this morning. Thanks, guys,” Mair wrote and later added, “The sooner we remove Iowa’s front-running status, the better off American politics and policy will be.”

Iowa traditionally hosts the nation’s first presidential nominating contest. The state’s presidential caucuses are less than a year away.

Mair referred questions to Walker’s campaign, which had no immediate response.

Kaufmann said Tuesday that he’d want Mair to apologize and learn more about Iowa or “I’d send her packing.”

Kaufmann said he had not spoken to Walker’s campaign and that he did not think Walker agreed with any criticism of Iowa’s role in the presidential nominating process. But he added: “You want to talk about something that unites the Republican Party? Start questioning our first-in-thenation status. That is the tie that binds.”