Donald Trump's slam of Iowans as "stupid" would usually be a breathtaking gaffe for a presidential candidate, but the billionaire businessman has proved time and again that this isn't any normal presidential race and that he isn't any normal candidate.
Top Republicans and Republican operatives in the state on Friday disparaged Trump's comments from his Thursday evening rally at Iowa Central Community College in which he questioned the intelligence of voters who believe rival Ben Carson's claims of a violent past and subsequent redemption. "How stupid are the people of Iowa? How stupid are the people of the country to believe this crap?" Trump yelled.
"Not good to insult Iowa voters," Doug Gross, the former chief of staff to Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, told POLITICO on Friday.
Steve Grubbs, the chief Iowa strategist for rival Rand Paul, was happy to pounce on the comment. "Trump's meltdown last night makes me worry what would happen in a stressful situation in the White House," Grubbs said.
But many Iowa Republicans also don't see lasting damage. They see the comments as unfortunate but not nearly enough to send Trump packing
Meanwhile, his attacks on Carson escalate:
