The goal for 2020 underdogs in Iowa: to become the Joe Biden alternative

[DonViejo]

By Sean Sullivan June 10 at 6:00 AM

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Bernie Sanders spent three days hopscotching across Iowa, from a college auditorium to an LGBTQ pride festival to a Democratic jamboree, where he made a new case against presidential rival Joe Biden.

Elizabeth Warren has blanketed the state with some 50 staffers courting supporters with kaffeeklatsches, happy hours and trivia nights. During her eighth visit this year, which concludes Monday, she refreshed her contrast with the former vice president, as a new Iowa survey showed her surging.

And Pete Buttigieg whisked around Iowa presenting himself as a new generation leader and warning against reverting to the “old normal” that, he seemed to imply, was associated with Biden. Buttigieg is preparing to ramp up his modest ground operation in the state, according to a campaign adviser.

The battle in all-important Iowa to emerge as the main alternative to Biden, who sits atop the polls here and nationally, has kicked into high gear. Nineteen candidates for the Democratic nomination blitzed the state over the weekend, including the Vermont and Massachusetts senators and the South Bend, Ind., mayor.

Notably missing from the fray was Biden himself. The former vice president, who skipped a major Democratic event Sunday event to attend his granddaughter’s high school graduation, according to his campaign advisers, plans to come to Iowa on Tuesday, setting up dueling appearances with President Trump, who intends to fly in the same day.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-goal-for-2020-underdogs-in-iowa-to-become-the-joe-biden-alternative/2019/06/09/d5c260d8-8937-11e9-98c1-e945ae5db8fb_story.html?utm_term=.69b66ea20b49

[samnsara]

1. joe maximizes his time..

...brilliant move to be in same state as trump at the same time. And congrats to his grand daughter...

[Peacetrain]

2. As an Iowan, we appreciated VP Biden going to his grand daughters graduation

that is the same choice we would have made.. He is back in the state tomorrow.. 5 minutes on the stage... and that was it .. vs keeping trust with your family.. that is something we Iowans value..