Ethanol group invites Huntsman

Over at POLITICO Pro, Bob King reports in Afternoon Energy that the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association would like to throw open its doors to ethanol critic Jon Huntsman:

[T]he group said it was willing to cut Huntsman some slack, citing the nearly two years he just finished spending as ambassador to China. Advertisement “A lot has changed during those two years, and his perception of Iowa and current ethanol and energy policy is woefully out of date,” said a statement from association President Walt Wendland. “Therefore, we want to invite Ambassador Huntsman to Iowa so he can learn how politics and policy actually work here. … Any candidate who supports a level playing field with true market access can do just fine in Iowa.”

If Huntsman's skipping Iowa, he can afford to be called out of step with the ethanol community. And this isn't exactly the same level of character-based zinger that Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz delivered this morning.