Cedar Rapids , Iowa ( CNN ) -- Hillary Clinton swiped at Republican Senate hopeful Joni Ernst on Wednesday for canceling a meeting with the Des Moines Register editorial board last week , telling a labor audience that not answering `` tough questions '' is `` disqualifying '' in the state . `` I have concluded that Iowans take politics really seriously , '' Clinton said . `` You test your candidates , you actually force them to be the best they can be and they have to be willing to answer the tough questions . '' Democrat Bruce Braley `` has been willing to do this , and his opponent has not , '' she said . `` It truly seems like it should be in disqualifying in Iowa of all states to avoid answering questions , '' Clinton added to a sustained round of applause . Joni Ernst defends skipping Des Moines Register meeting . Of course , the comment could extend beyond the Iowa Senate campaign . Clinton has acknowledged she is thinking about running for president , and many in Iowa think she will decide to run . Should she do so , she will be asked a number of difficult questions from Iowa voters and journalists . At her second event in Iowa on Wednesday , a rally in Davenport , Clinton repeated the line with a slight variation . `` Not in Iowa do people get away from asking tough questions , '' Clinton said , before adding , `` Except questions that are far in the future . '' The line got the crowd laughing and Clinton responded with a slight smirk , acknowledging she was referencing her presidential ambitions . `` Only one candidate in this race answers your questions , '' Clinton added . `` Do n't let anybody in this campaign ... hide behind outside money and negative adds . That is not the Iowa way . '' Clinton also knocked Ernst , a female candidate , as someone who did n't stand with women because her stances on reproductive rights . `` It is not enough to be a woman , '' Clinton , the prohibitive favorite for her party 's nomination in 2016 , said of Ernst , `` You have to be committed to expanding rights and opportunities for all women . ''
NEW : At a second event of the day , Hillary Clinton jokingly hints at her presidential ambitions . Clinton slams Senate hopeful Joni Ernst for not attending newspaper editorial meeting . Democrat Bruce Braley `` has been willing to do this and his opponent has not , '' Clinton says .