By

RobertSchroeder

Fiscal policy reporter

Getty Images

Sen. Ted Cruz is facing pressure ahead of the key Iowa caucus on two fronts, as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin endorsed his chief rival Donald Trump and the Hawkeye State’s governor called on voters not to vote for the Texan.

Palin was due to appear with Trump at a rally in Ames, Iowa, later Tuesday. And Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad ripped Cruz over renewable fuels — a key issue in agricultural state Iowa.

Branstad spoke to reporters at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit and said the Texas senator — currently neck and neck with Trump in Iowa-caucus polls — is “the biggest opponent of renewable fuels.”

“I think it would be a big mistake for Iowa to support him,” the governor said, according to the Des Moines Register. And Branstad bluntly replied “yes” when a reporter asked if he wanted Cruz to be defeated in Iowa.

The Register says Cruz said during a recent Iowa bus tour that he supports a phase-out of the renewable fuel standard over five years. And Cruz has also said he doesn’t believe the government should be “picking winners and losers” in the energy business. Forty-seven percent of Iowa corn goes into ethanol production, according to the Iowa Corn Growers Association.

The state’s caucuses are Feb. 1.

Cruz rival Trump seized on Branstad’s comments, tweeting “big shoker [sic]! People do not like Ted.”

Trump is due to appear in Iowa Tuesday evening, and had promised a “big announcement” with a “very special guest.”

Late Tuesday, the New York Times reported Palin is endorsing Trump and would appear alongside him at the rally in Ames.

Trump said in a statement he was “greatly honored to receive Sarah’s endorsement” and called her “a friend, and a high-quality person whom I have great respect for.”

Palin on Tuesday morning tweeted a link to a blog post from her daughter ripping Cruz. Cruz himself appeared to be preparing for the possibility Palin would endorse Trump, tweeting “Regardless of what she does in 2016, I will always be a big fan.”

Is THIS Why People Don’t like Cruz? https://t.co/Qv3iih071S

— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) January 19, 2016