Branstad Defends Fake Website

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) defended his campaign’s use of a fake website that uses the name of their Democratic opponents, with Branstad saying the idea came from younger campaign operatives and “this kind of stuff happens in campaigns all the time,” the Des Moines Register reports.

“The Branstad re-election campaign purchased the domain of HatchVernon.com, setting it up as though it were an official campaign website but using it to portray gubernatorial candidate Jack Hatch and Monica Vernon, who is running for lieutenant governor, as seeking to raise taxes, cause higher unemployment and pass unbalanced budgets.”