Two presidential candidates from each side of the aisle visited Southeast Iowa on Saturday, and both of them blasted their respective parties for what they say is an attempt by the parties establishment to hand pick their own preferred nominee.
Louisiana Republican Governor Bobby Jindal and former Maryland Democratic Governor Martin O’Malley made stops in Burlington and Mount Pleasant respectively on Saturday, with Jindal also heading to an event in Mount Pleasant on Sunday.
O’Malley spoke at the Henry County Democrat’s Harvest Festival Picnic at the Old Threasher’s Grounds, Jindal spoke to a large crowd at the Des Moines County Republican’s annual steak fry dinner at the Port of Burlington.
O’Malley grilled the Democratic Party establishment for what he called protecting Hillary Clinton from other candidates.
“They’re nervous about the ‘inevitability’ of this years ‘inevitable frontrunner’,” O’Malley told KBUR, referring to frontrunner Hillary Clinton, “They’re probably trying to limit exposure. It’s not good for the party and it’s not good for the country. We should be having more debates, not fewer.” There will be just one democratic presidential debate before the Iowa Caucus in February.
Jindal had a very similar criticism of the Republican Party establishment.
“I think the [Republican National Committee] is making a mistake by limiting the number of debates and the folks in the debate. I think the establishment wants a Jeb Bush vs. Donald Trump fight, and I think that’s a mistake,” Jindal said, “They don’t get to pick our candidate. They don’t get to clear the field. The voters get to pick our nominee.”
Both candidates are down near the bottom of their respective packs and fighting for name recognition and poll numbers.
