Chabot: Dems barnstorm Iowa in scramble for votes

Democratic presidential candidates fanned out across Iowa Sunday seeking to pump up turnout while making last-minute arguments that they are the best candidate to beat President Trump only hours before registered Democrats headed to the Hawkeye State caucuses.

“I believe the character of the nation is on the ballot,” said former Vice President Joe Biden Sunday during a campaign event in Dubuque, Iowa. Biden spent much of the rally blasting Trump instead of focusing on party rivals.

“For Democrats the key is who is going to win against Donald Trump. There is such an intensity in general this cycle because they desperately want to get rid of him,” said Tim Hagle, political science professor at the University of Iowa.

Iowa Democrats will gather Monday night and argue for their favorite candidate. Whoever finishes the evening with the biggest number of Iowa delegates wins. Democrats are also going to release the tally of who voters supported at the start of the night and who they supported as a second choice if their first pick didn’t get more than 15% in the first vote.

“We’re down to the final strokes here,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) while in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. “But we understand that we will and we must come together as a party to beat Donald Trump and I’ve got a plan for that.”

Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders are locked in a battle to come out on top, said Hagle, but Sanders’ chances have grown over the weekend.

“The Sanders people, they are very energetic so they should have a good turnout,” Hagle said. Warren (D-MA) and South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg have also polled high — leaving plenty of room for surprises at the end of caucus night.

“It’s going to be interesting to see the order that the candidates fall and see if any are able to jump up to the next level,” said Hagle.

One candidate who could do better than expected is Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Her momentum has been on the rise, although the Minnesota senator has been unable to take advantage of it because she and the other senators were stuck in Washington, D.C., during the impeachment hearings.

“I wish I could be here at the very last moment, but I can’t,” said Klobuchar Sunday at an event in Cedar Rapids. “I want you to have my back.”

Sanders, Warren and Klobuchar will all spend caucus day back in Washington, D.C.

Some candidates like Warren have been pushing to lower expectations as the caucuses near and their palpable momentum flags.

“Warren is fading. She still is losing supporters to Sanders, who seems to be the more authentic progressive candidate,” said Hagle. “If she comes in fourth, it could be all over for her.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2ROXoXZ