One of these things does not belong in the Senate ... (Image via video still)

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) was humiliated by what should have been a simple, factual question during her virtual debate in Iowa Thursday nigh — and with the race as close as it is, this answer won't do her any favors.

Challenger Theresa Greenfield had been asked by the moderator to name the break-even price of corn for Iowa farmers. She nailed it.

Next, Ernst was asked the same question — of soybeans. It did not go well, and she tried to pretend she wasn't hearing the question correctly ...

SHE READY pic.twitter.com/zLWQbSMljH

— Meena Harris (@meenaharris) October 15, 2020

ABOVE: She “ain't goin' to play with these hos” is Lincoln Project material.

BELOW: Keep reading for the queer candidates fighting for our rights, more Biden polling bonanzas (not to mention a record-breaking cash haul), Kamala on the fly and more ...

ABOVE: Favorite account, of late.

BELOW: Naked Temptation Islander, Trump refusing to cede power peacefully (?!), Cindy McCain twisting the knife and more ...

(Images by Alan Light)

My pal Alan Light, an Iowa-based photographer, was telling me how the probably mostly straight college stud(ent)s were sketchy on mask-wearing, leading to a COVID-19 uptick in this state.

Check out these photos, which he says accurately reflect the % of mask use ...

ABOVE: Comedy icon Lucille Ball was born 109 years ago today!

BELOW: Keep reading for Nolan Gould's shirtless adventure, Trump's possible indictment (???), a novel approach to battling the novel coronavirus and more ...

ABOVE: Makes cents.

BELOW: Keep reading for more on the passing of John Lewis, Barr's black ops going national, a gay man's murder leads to three arrests and more ...

ABOVE: Happy 94th to Cher's mom!

BELOW: Keep reading for Biden's George Floyd eulogy, the shit show in Georgia, NYPD cops whining for respect and more ...

Buttigieg has a target on his back. (GIF via GIPHY)

Regardless of which Democrat is your favorite — and fuck off if you're voting third party or think fascist pig Trump is an acceptable choice — it's getting ridiculous how people can't stand any criticisms between them.

It's. A. Primary.

This is the time to draw differences, and maybe a little metaphorical blood. All will be forgotten in the general.

That said, I like Pete Buttigieg (he's not my #1), but this Biden ad attacking him as inexperienced is brilliant. Still, I think Buttigieg may be doing so well in part because people like that he is fresh out of the wrapper, and the attacks may actually be endearing him to some voters.

I also think Buttigieg's ideologically similar opponents — Klobuchar, Biden — attacking him is probably just helping Bernie Sanders, who has a far better shot at winning the nomination anyway.

But Biden, facing challenges in New Hampshire and elsewhere, needs to start doing better, so he is swinging at the latest guy to do well in the polls (and in the Iowa Caucus, which Buttigieg did, in fact, win).

Watch the attack ad below ...