Dem hopefuls flock to Iowa

[DonViejo]

BY AMIE PARNES - 01/08/18 06:00 AM EST

Democrats with White House aspirations are flocking to Iowa.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio, Rep. Tim Ryan (Ohio), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) and Rep. Seth Moulton (Mass.) are among the Democrats who visited the Hawkeye state last year.

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley dropped in four times, while former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander has visited the state on seven occasions in recent months. He also deployed his former campaign manager to Iowa to head up a field office for his voting rights organization.

Locals have been buzzing about a potential appearance by former Vice President Joe Biden, who is expected to come to the state to campaign for Abby Finkenauer, a former staffer who is running for a seat in the Iowa House of Representatives.

Sanders — who made stops last summer in Des Moines and Iowa City — is also expected to return to campaign for Pete D'Alessandro, a former operative of his who is running for Congress.

Other top-tier potential candidates such as Sens. Kamala Harris (Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) and Cory Booker (N.J.) have yet to test the waters, but Pat Rynard, founder of the popular Democratic news site IowaStartingLine.com, predicted that their travel to Iowa isn’t too far away.

more
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/367619-dem-hopefuls-flock-to-iowa

[monmouth4]

1. Why oh Why Iowa???? n/t

[left-of-center2012]

2. Where did they stand on Al Franken?

Inquiring minds ....

[vi5]

3. Can we do away with this Iowa bullshit once and for all...

..have we not learned at this point that literally none of the old rules apply. Can we make this idiotic rule the first one out the door?

[SharonClark]

4. Iowa is still a good way for a newcomer with little money get a win under their belt.

The big states that follow can, and often do, ignore the Iowa results. I live in Iowa and I"m sick to death of the repugs dominating the media here with their 20 or so candidates. I welcome Dems coming here and blasting Trump although I fear they will be too cautious to blast that horrid man Grassley as well. Having lots of Dems here benefits all Dems because they can hone their messages. If you don"t like it, view it as the warm up to the big show because that is what it is.

Candidates no longer hide out in Iowa, they fly in and out so they can make appearances in other states with more votes.

The candidates have to actually talk with and listen to the people in Iowa and Dems in Iowa are fairly progressive. It is not just the bs of advertising and large rallies like it is in big states.

That all said, I would support having 1st in the nation rotate thru different small states if only to help them build their party organizations.