US presidential candidate Ted Cruz to face protest from pro-ethanol group

Republican Party candidate Ted Cruz is due to face criticism from a pro-ethanol lobby group as he conducts a bus tour through Iowa this week, according to media reports.

According to news website Politico, pro-ethanol group America's Renewable Future is hunting the presidential candidate in an attempt to derail his candidacy. The group, which supports the mandate that gasoline contain 10% corn-derived ethanol, are protesting against Cruz for two reasons. First, Cruz opposes the mandate and would see it abolished. Second, Cruz is ahead in the polls in Iowa.

The group is taking out digital and TV ads and making robocalls claiming that the senator from Texas has it in for Iowa corn farmers.

"We're going to be turning out all of our allies," Eric Branstad, America's Renewable Future state director, told Politico. The group supports the so-called the Renewable Fuel Standard, which Cruz has vocally opposed. "Iowans can't trust him and we have a duty to let them know why."