Trump's latest target in Iowa: Scott Walker

OSKALOOSA, Ia. – Donald Trump on Saturday turned his verbal bazookas on rival Republican Scott Walker, the front-runner in the GOP presidential race in Iowa, ripping on the Wisconsin governor as a policy flip-flopper who has left his state in turmoil.

Trump, who has become famous in this race for his willingness to mock or insult his detractors, told Iowans at a picnic rally he hosted in Oskaloosa on Saturday afternoon that he used to be a supporter of Walker, but his feelings have now changed.

Trump said after he helped Walker during his Wisconsin re-election campaign last year, Walker rewarded him with a beautiful plaque.

"And then today I read this horrible statement from his fundraiser about Trump. I said, 'Oh, finally I can attack. Finally. Finally. I would've never done this,' " Trump told an audience of about 1,200.

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Trump was referring to Walker backer Gregory Slayton, who, according to the Wall Street Journal, called the New York reality TV star "DumbDumb" in an email inviting potential donors to a fundraiser for Walker.

"I hear the only one beating me in Iowa is Scott Walker and not by that much," Trump said during an hourlong speech. "I can't believe I'm in second place. I finally am in second place in Iowa. But he is next door. Folks, will you please put me in first place so I feel better?"

The audience, about 800 inside a community auditorium and about 440 in an overflow space in the middle school next door, cheered and applauded their approval.

The most recent survey in Iowa, by Monmouth University, put Walker at the head of the GOP pack with 22 percent support among likely GOP caucusgoers. Trump was at 13 percent, trailing by 9 points.

Trump at one point said Walker's state "by the way is a disaster. But I won't say that."

But later in his speech, he did say that.

"Wisconsin is doing terribly," he said. "First of all it's in turmoil. The roads are a disaster because they don't have any money to rebuild them. They borrow money like crazy. They projected a $1 billion surplus and instead of a $1 billion — I wrote this stuff all down, although I don't need it because I have a really good memory — but they projected a $1 billion surplus and it turns out to be a deficit of $2.2 billion."

Trump said Wisconsin's schools and hospitals are "a disaster."

MORE: 10 insults delivered by Trump in Iowa

"And he was totally in favor of Common Core. Did you know that? … And (former Florida Gov. Jeb) Bush is totally in favor of Common Core. Now with Bush, I give him one thing. He stuck with it. … Scott Walker changed when he saw he was getting creamed."

Common Core education standards are very unpopular with conservative activists in Iowa, polling shows.

Trump framed himself Saturday as someone willing to do what's right for the United States, even if it offends the powers that be.

"I don't care. I say the truth. I don't care," he said.

As Iowans picnicked on hot dogs, burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad and coleslaw, some told The Des Moines Register they came to Trump's event for one reason.

"For the free food," said Austin Buettner, an Ohio resident working construction in Eddyville for the summer.

Some said they don't intend to vote in Iowa's first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses, but they were drawn by Trump's celebrity.

"I've never seen him before," Walter Doty, an 81-year-old Oskaloosa military veteran, said as he stood in the blazing sunshine on the sidewalk outside the auditorium. He waited until Trump's black SUV arrived, about 40 minutes late for a speech picnic-goers thought would start at noon.

But reaction to Trump's remarks seemed unanimous:

"Loved it," said Brad Harris, a 47-year-old window manufacturing company manager from Grinnell. "The biggest thing was just the idea that he's not interested in special interests, he's not interested in (financial) backers — he's interested in doing what's right. My take is there's a lot of great candidates but unfortunately their hands are tied with the people that back them. He's got the money to do what he wants to do."

His wife, Lynette Harris, 44, a hairdresser, said she didn't mind all the insults Trump dished out. "I like that he's not afraid to call them out, she said. "He just kind of makes me giggle to myself. It's real."

As the Harrises left, Brad Harris told the Register unprompted: "Sorry you had to get bashed by him."

Trump's campaign manager told the Register on Friday that reporters would not be allowed inside the Oskaloosa event as punishment for an editorial the newspaper's opinion writers published Monday calling for Trump to quit the race.

Register politics intern Henry Hahn entered the auditorium Saturday as a member of the public. Chief politics reporter Jennifer Jacobs stood outside until Trump arrived. He recognized her but said nothing to her as she videotaped his interactions with Iowans lining his path to the door. The auditorium seating was full, but Trump aides greeted her politely and didn't bar her from taking a seat in the overflow area.