Palin heading to Iowa to rally for Joni Ernst

Former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is headed to Iowa to stump for Senate candidate Joni Ernst (R).

{mosads}The former Alaska governor will headline a “Heels on, Gloves Off!” rally in West Des Moines put on by ShePAC, a group that seeks to elect conservative women to office. Ernst was the first candidate to win the group’s endorsement in 2014, and she was endorsed by Palin in March.

Other notable Republican women attending the rally will be Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), former Nebraska Gov. Kay Orr (R) and current Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds (R).

Palin’s visit to Iowa is the first by the potential presidential candidate since an Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition fundraiser in November.

Ernst, currently an Iowa state senator, recently drew national attention for an ad that compared federal budget cutting to hog castration. Last week, a poll from Suffolk University showed her holding a narrow lead, 25 to 23 percent, over businessman Mark Jacobs in the primary race. The race remains wide open, with 40 percent of Republican primary voters undecided. The winner will face Iowa House Rep. Bruce Braley (D), who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.