pbs--2020-01-14--6 questions ahead of the final Democratic debate before voting begins

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Tuesday marks the last time the leading Democratic presidential contenders will face a national audience on the debate stage before primary voting begins , making it the most significant moment of the 2020 primary season to date .
The prime-time faceoff comes just 20 days before Iowa ’ s caucuses as polls suggest the nomination is truly up for grabs .
Heading in , there were new signs of tension among all the top-tier candidates , particularly Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren .
If ever there was a time for the six contenders on stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is it .
Six big questions heading into the Des Moines debate , to be carried live on CNN : Is the Democratic primary about to explode ?
The conditions are ripe for a full-blown political brawl in Iowa .
Less than three weeks before voting begins , there is no front-runner , which means that every candidate on stage has the opportunity to stand out .
And as Cory Booker found out , it ’ s hard to stand out in 2020 playing the nice guy .
Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share of heat in past debates .
And suddenly , Warren and Sanders are sparring with each other .
It ’ s always risky to go on the attack , but with time running out and tensions rising , it ’ s easy to envision fireworks .
A dust-up between Warren and Sanders is moving gender to the center of the debate .
Sanders was on the defensive Monday facing anonymous reports that he told Warren during a private meeting in 2018 that a female candidate couldn ’ t beat President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement Monday night , while Sanders has vigorously denied it .
The dispute reflects Sanders ’ growing stature in the field .
But it also speaks to the bigger role women will play in choosing the next president — and it underscores anxiety among many Democrats that voters aren ’ t ready for a woman in the White House .
While many Democrats say they want a female president , they say the top priority is beating Trump in November .
Is it Bernie ’ s turn for the front-runner treatment ?
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to win Iowa and New Hampshire , so perhaps it ’ s fitting that Sanders is looking like a top target heading into the debate .
On Monday , he was on the defensive facing anonymous reports that he told Warren during a private meeting in 2018 that a female candidate couldn ’ t beat Trump .
Warren confirmed the report in a statement Monday night , while Sanders has vigorously denied it .
That was just days after news leaked that the Sanders campaign was privately encouraging volunteers to play up concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters .
Given her recent struggle for momentum and Sanders ’ rise , this is a fight that Warren wants and needs .
And don ’ t forget that Biden and his allies have raised consistent concerns about Sanders ’ signature policies and his status as a self-described democratic socialist .
Sanders has been an afterthought in past debates , but he enters this one as a central player .
Pete Buttigieg came under heavy scrutiny in the last debate for hosting wealthy donors at a California “ wine cave.
” While we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visited any other wine caves since , we do know that he ’ s maintained an aggressive fundraising schedule that relies heavily on big donors .
Fundraising represents a defining issue in the broader fight between opposing wings in the Democratic Party : One insists that any money from big-dollar donors is tainted , while the other insists they need all the money they can get to defeat Trump .
Given his well-documented struggles with black voters , Buttigieg can not afford to alienate many progressives , which is exactly what happened around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all-white field play ?
The Iowa debate features the smallest group in the Democrats ’ 2020 primary season — and it ’ ll also be the whitest .
Not a single person of color met the Democratic National Committee ’ s rising donor and polling thresholds .
That ’ s not good news for a party that needs to generate strong minority turnout to defeat Trump , who is tremendously unpopular with black and brown voters , but is making an aggressive case that the Democratic Party is taking them for granted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s claims , forcing the all-white cast to defend their party on a sensitive issue .
Last week ’ s military clash with Iran shines a new spotlight on foreign policy — and Biden .
The former Delaware senator and two-term vice president has struggled for almost two decades to explain his 2002 vote to authorize military action against Iraq .
Foreign policy should be a strength for him .
But the Iraq vote , among other questionable decisions , gives his rivals legitimate lines of attack .
Based on recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the most aggressive on Iraq .
Biden hasn ’ t helped himself recently by inaccurately describing his position .
Few issues illustrate the difference between Biden and his competitors more than this one .
Biden knows it ’ s coming — can he finally move past it ?
Can anyone else outshine the big four ?
In a race packed with this much uncertainty , it ’ s a mistake to dismiss anyone on stage .
That includes Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and billionaire activist Tom Steyer , who may have struggled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year but have each shown upside in recent weeks .
Klobuchar , who had a strong showing in last month ’ s debate , has a biography made for Iowa .
And Steyer , who is flooding early voting states with a massive advertising campaign , raised eyebrows last week with surprisingly strong polling .
They have yet to crack the top tier , but with the eyes of the political world on them Tuesday , the opportunity is there .

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tuesday marks the last time the leading Democratic presidential contenders will face a national audience on the debate stage before primary voting begins, making it the most significant moment of the 2020 primary season to date.
The prime-time faceoff comes just 20 days before Iowa’s caucuses as polls suggest the nomination is truly up for grabs. Heading in, there were new signs of tension among all the top-tier candidates, particularly Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. If ever there was a time for the six contenders on stage to take the gloves off, this is it.
Six big questions heading into the Des Moines debate, to be carried live on CNN:
Is the Democratic primary about to explode?
The conditions are ripe for a full-blown political brawl in Iowa. Less than three weeks before voting begins, there is no front-runner, which means that every candidate on stage has the opportunity to stand out. And as Cory Booker found out, it’s hard to stand out in 2020 playing the nice guy. Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg have already given and taken their fair share of heat in past debates. And suddenly, Warren and Sanders are sparring with each other. It’s always risky to go on the attack, but with time running out and tensions rising, it’s easy to envision fireworks.
A debate over gender?
A dust-up between Warren and Sanders is moving gender to the center of the debate. Sanders was on the defensive Monday facing anonymous reports that he told Warren during a private meeting in 2018 that a female candidate couldn’t beat President Donald Trump. Warren confirmed the report in a statement Monday night, while Sanders has vigorously denied it. The dispute reflects Sanders’ growing stature in the field. But it also speaks to the bigger role women will play in choosing the next president — and it underscores anxiety among many Democrats that voters aren’t ready for a woman in the White House. While many Democrats say they want a female president, they say the top priority is beating Trump in November.
Is it Bernie’s turn for the front-runner treatment?
His team insists he’s well positioned to win Iowa and New Hampshire, so perhaps it’s fitting that Sanders is looking like a top target heading into the debate. On Monday, he was on the defensive facing anonymous reports that he told Warren during a private meeting in 2018 that a female candidate couldn’t beat Trump. Warren confirmed the report in a statement Monday night, while Sanders has vigorously denied it. That was just days after news leaked that the Sanders campaign was privately encouraging volunteers to play up concerns about Warren’s appeal beyond educated voters. Given her recent struggle for momentum and Sanders’ rise, this is a fight that Warren wants and needs. And don’t forget that Biden and his allies have raised consistent concerns about Sanders’ signature policies and his status as a self-described democratic socialist. Sanders has been an afterthought in past debates, but he enters this one as a central player.
Is the wine cave closed?
Pete Buttigieg came under heavy scrutiny in the last debate for hosting wealthy donors at a California “wine cave.” While we don’t know if he has visited any other wine caves since, we do know that he’s maintained an aggressive fundraising schedule that relies heavily on big donors. Fundraising represents a defining issue in the broader fight between opposing wings in the Democratic Party: One insists that any money from big-dollar donors is tainted, while the other insists they need all the money they can get to defeat Trump. Given his well-documented struggles with black voters, Buttigieg cannot afford to alienate many progressives, which is exactly what happened around the wine cave.
How does the all-white field play?
The Iowa debate features the smallest group in the Democrats’ 2020 primary season — and it’ll also be the whitest. Not a single person of color met the Democratic National Committee’s rising donor and polling thresholds. That’s not good news for a party that needs to generate strong minority turnout to defeat Trump, who is tremendously unpopular with black and brown voters, but is making an aggressive case that the Democratic Party is taking them for granted. Tuesday’s lineup may help bolster Trump’s claims, forcing the all-white cast to defend their party on a sensitive issue.
Can Biden move past Iraq?
Last week’s military clash with Iran shines a new spotlight on foreign policy — and Biden. The former Delaware senator and two-term vice president has struggled for almost two decades to explain his 2002 vote to authorize military action against Iraq. Foreign policy should be a strength for him. But the Iraq vote, among other questionable decisions, gives his rivals legitimate lines of attack. Based on recent history, expect Buttigieg and Sanders to be the most aggressive on Iraq. Biden hasn’t helped himself recently by inaccurately describing his position. Few issues illustrate the difference between Biden and his competitors more than this one. Biden knows it’s coming — can he finally move past it?
Can anyone else outshine the big four?
In a race packed with this much uncertainty, it’s a mistake to dismiss anyone on stage. That includes Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and billionaire activist Tom Steyer, who may have struggled for attention for much of the last year but have each shown upside in recent weeks. Klobuchar, who had a strong showing in last month’s debate, has a biography made for Iowa. And Steyer, who is flooding early voting states with a massive advertising campaign, raised eyebrows last week with surprisingly strong polling. They have yet to crack the top tier, but with the eyes of the political world on them Tuesday, the opportunity is there.


pbs--2020-01-14--Warren says Sanders told her a woman couldn't win presidency

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Elizabeth Warren said Monday that fellow Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders told her he didn ’ t think a woman could win the White House when they met privately in 2018 .
Sanders has denied telling Warren that a woman couldn ’ t win .
But the Massachusetts senator said in a statement that during their two-hour meeting to discuss the 2020 election , “ among the topics that came up was what would happen if Democrats nominated a female candidate .
I thought a woman could win ; he disagreed.
” The dispute marked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary that , with few exceptions , has been characterized by genial differences over domestic issues such as health care .
The feud brewing between Warren and Sanders will likely change the tone of the campaign going into Tuesday ’ s debate and comes less than three weeks before the Iowa caucuses launch the Democratic contest .
It also marks a jarring split between the two longtime progressive allies , potentially giving an opening for a more moderate rivals such as former Vice President Joe Biden to attempt unifying the party .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders “ have far more in common than our differences on punditry.
” “ I ’ m in this race to talk about what ’ s broken in this country and how to fix it — and that ’ s what I ’ m going to continue to do , ” she said .
“ I know Bernie is in the race for the same reason .
We have been friends and allies in this fight for a long time , and I have no doubt we will continue to work together to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the side of the people.
” CNN first reported Sanders ’ comment earlier Monday , based on the accounts of anonymous people with knowledge of the meeting .
That drew a swift and strong denial from Sanders , a Vermont senator , who said , “ It is ludicrous to believe that at the same meeting where Elizabeth Warren told me she was going to run for president , I would tell her that a woman couldn ’ t win.
” WATCH : As Booker drops out , Iowa polls show same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then accused Warren ’ s campaign of leaking what they said was an inaccurate description of what was said during the meeting .
That helped prompt Warren ’ s statement hours later .
Jeff Weaver , a senior adviser to Sanders , then seemed to try and defuse the situation , refusing to refute Warren ’ s version and instead saying only on CNN on Monday night that “ those conversations can sometimes get misconstrued.
” Still , the controversy is likely to revive anxiety among Democrats about whether — nearly four years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bid — voters are willing to support another woman running for president .
Such questions have dogged Warren and other female candidates throughout the 2020 campaign .
Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard tweeted Monday night that she had also met with Sanders before announcing her presidential campaign .
“ In that meeting , he showed me the greatest respect and encouragement , just as he always has , ” Gabbard wrote .
The clash between Sanders and Warren comes on the eve of a Democratic presidential debate in Iowa , the last before that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its leadoff caucuses on Feb. 3 .
Warren and Sanders , both of whom support universal health care , tuition-free public college and raising the minimum wage , have for months competed for their party ’ s most liberal wing while refraining from attacking each other .
But following a Politico story over the weekend that reported the Sanders campaign had instructed some volunteers to characterize Warren as a candidate for wealthy and well-educated voters in conversations with undecided voters , Warren issued a rare critique of her opponent .
She said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffers to “ trash ” her .
That set the stage for Monday ’ s hours of additional squabbling — and may well spell a lively debate Tuesday .
Stephanie Taylor and Adam Green , co-founders of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee , which has at times praised both Warren and Sanders , released its own statement Monday night saying they “ believe that a back-and-forth about this private meeting is counter-productive for progressives.
” “ In this pivotal moment of the campaign , progressives must work together to defeat Donald Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @

WASHINGTON (AP) — Elizabeth Warren said Monday that fellow Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders told her he didn’t think a woman could win the White House when they met privately in 2018.
Sanders has denied telling Warren that a woman couldn’t win. But the Massachusetts senator said in a statement that during their two-hour meeting to discuss the 2020 election, “among the topics that came up was what would happen if Democrats nominated a female candidate. I thought a woman could win; he disagreed.”
The dispute marked an extraordinary turning point in a Democratic primary that, with few exceptions, has been characterized by genial differences over domestic issues such as health care. The feud brewing between Warren and Sanders will likely change the tone of the campaign going into Tuesday’s debate and comes less than three weeks before the Iowa caucuses launch the Democratic contest. It also marks a jarring split between the two longtime progressive allies, potentially giving an opening for a more moderate rivals such as former Vice President Joe Biden to attempt unifying the party.
In her statement, Warren said she and Sanders “have far more in common than our differences on punditry.”
“I’m in this race to talk about what’s broken in this country and how to fix it — and that’s what I’m going to continue to do,” she said. “I know Bernie is in the race for the same reason. We have been friends and allies in this fight for a long time, and I have no doubt we will continue to work together to defeat Donald Trump and put our government on the side of the people.”
CNN first reported Sanders’ comment earlier Monday, based on the accounts of anonymous people with knowledge of the meeting. That drew a swift and strong denial from Sanders, a Vermont senator, who said, “It is ludicrous to believe that at the same meeting where Elizabeth Warren told me she was going to run for president, I would tell her that a woman couldn’t win.”
WATCH: As Booker drops out, Iowa polls show same 4 candidates atop Democratic field
Sanders aides then accused Warren’s campaign of leaking what they said was an inaccurate description of what was said during the meeting.
That helped prompt Warren’s statement hours later. Jeff Weaver, a senior adviser to Sanders, then seemed to try and defuse the situation, refusing to refute Warren’s version and instead saying only on CNN on Monday night that “those conversations can sometimes get misconstrued.”
Still, the controversy is likely to revive anxiety among Democrats about whether — nearly four years after Hillary Clinton lost her White House bid — voters are willing to support another woman running for president. Such questions have dogged Warren and other female candidates throughout the 2020 campaign.
Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard tweeted Monday night that she had also met with Sanders before announcing her presidential campaign. “In that meeting, he showed me the greatest respect and encouragement, just as he always has,” Gabbard wrote.
The clash between Sanders and Warren comes on the eve of a Democratic presidential debate in Iowa, the last before that state kicks off the Democratic primary with its leadoff caucuses on Feb. 3. Warren and Sanders, both of whom support universal health care, tuition-free public college and raising the minimum wage, have for months competed for their party’s most liberal wing while refraining from attacking each other.
But following a Politico story over the weekend that reported the Sanders campaign had instructed some volunteers to characterize Warren as a candidate for wealthy and well-educated voters in conversations with undecided voters, Warren issued a rare critique of her opponent. She said she was “disappointed” Sanders was instructing staffers to “trash” her.
That set the stage for Monday’s hours of additional squabbling — and may well spell a lively debate Tuesday.
Stephanie Taylor and Adam Green, co-founders of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which has at times praised both Warren and Sanders, released its own statement Monday night saying they “believe that a back-and-forth about this private meeting is counter-productive for progressives.”
“In this pivotal moment of the campaign, progressives must work together to defeat Donald Trump,” Taylor and Green said.


pbs--2020-01-14--House to vote on sending articles of impeachment to Senate

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The House is preparing to vote Wednesday to send the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate to start the historic trial , several people told The Associated Press .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi was meeting privately Tuesday at the Capitol with House Democrats about next steps , ending her blockade almost a month after they voted to impeach Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
Pelosi suggested the House vote on Wednesday to transmit the charges and name the House managers for the case , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed-door meeting .
The action will launch the rare Senate proceeding , only the third presidential impeachment trial in American history , a dramatic endeavor coming amid the backdrop of a politically divided nation and the start of an election year .
The trial would begin in a matter of days .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is meeting behind closed doors later Tuesday with GOP senators as they negotiate the terms of the trial .
Senate Republicans are signaling they would reject the idea of simply voting to dismiss the articles of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They are considering whether to allow a vote on such a motion to dismiss and another to subpoena testimony from new witnesses .
“ I think our members , generally are not interested in the motion to dismiss .
They think both sides need to be heard , ” Sen. Roy Blunt , R-Mo.
, who is part of GOP leadership , said Monday .
Trump was impeached by the Democratic-led House last month on charges of abuse of power over pushing Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden and obstruction of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment trial starting in a matter of days , senators are still debating the rules of the proceedings .
GOP senators are conferring privately about whether to allow a motion to dismiss the charges against the president or to call additional witnesses for testimony .
Trump suggested over the weekend he might prefer simply dismissing the charges rather than giving legitimacy to charges from the House , which he considers a “ hoax.
” WATCH : How the White House and Congress are preparing for Senate impeachment trial It was an extraordinary suggestion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allies with support from some GOP senators , including McConnell .
But it is clear McConnell does not have the votes needed from his GOP majority to do that .
Key Republicans , Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah , said they , too , would oppose a motion to dismiss the charges .
Collins is leading an effort among some Republicans , including Romney and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska , to ensure the ground rules include plans to eventually consider voting to call witnesses .
“ My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote on whether or not witnesses should be called , ” Collins said .
Romney said he wants to hear from John Bolton , the former national security adviser at the White House , who others have said raised alarms about the alternative foreign policy toward Ukraine being run led by Trump ’ s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani .
“ I ’ ve said I ’ d like to hear from John Bolton , ” Romney told reporters Monday .
“ I expect that barring some kind of surprise , I ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witnesses after those opening arguments.
” Democrats have been pushing Republicans , who have the majority in the Senate , to consider new testimony , arguing that fresh information has emerged during Pelosi ’ s monthlong delay in transmitting the charges .
McConnell drafting an organizing resolution that will outline the steps ahead .
Approving it will be among the first votes senators take after they are sworn as jurors by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts for the Court of Impeachment .
Republicans control the chamber , 53-47 , and are all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is hesitant to call new witnesses who would prolong the trial .
He prefers to model Trump ’ s trial partly on the process used for then-President Bill Clinton ’ s trial in 1999 .
Senators says if witnesses are allowed , some Republicans may also try to subpoena Biden and his son , Hunter Biden , who served on the board of a gas company in Ukraine while his father was vice president .
Trump ’ s lawyer Rudy Giuliani has been pursing theories about the Bidens , but other Republicans are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims against the Bidens are unfounded .
It takes just 51 votes during the impeachment trial to approve rules or call witnesses .
Just four GOP senators could form a majority with Democrats to insist on new testimony .
It also would take only 51 senators to vote to dismiss the charges against Trump .
Most Republicans appear willing to go along with McConnell ’ s plan to start the trial first then consider witnesses later , rather than upfront , as Democrats want .
Collins is pushing to have at least the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizing resolution .
She and the others appear to be gathering support .
“ I ’ ve been working to make sure that we will have a process that we can take a vote on whether or not we need additional information , and yes , that would include witnesses , ” Murkowski told reporters .
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters the House vote might come Wednesday .
“ Could be , ” he said .
Associated Press writers Matthew Daly , Andrew Taylor and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report @

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is preparing to vote Wednesday to send the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate to start the historic trial, several people told The Associated Press.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi was meeting privately Tuesday at the Capitol with House Democrats about next steps, ending her blockade almost a month after they voted to impeach Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
Pelosi suggested the House vote on Wednesday to transmit the charges and name the House managers for the case, according to one Democratic aide unauthorized to discuss the closed-door meeting.
The action will launch the rare Senate proceeding, only the third presidential impeachment trial in American history, a dramatic endeavor coming amid the backdrop of a politically divided nation and the start of an election year.
The trial would begin in a matter of days. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is meeting behind closed doors later Tuesday with GOP senators as they negotiate the terms of the trial.
Senate Republicans are signaling they would reject the idea of simply voting to dismiss the articles of impeachment against Trump as he has suggested. They are considering whether to allow a vote on such a motion to dismiss and another to subpoena testimony from new witnesses.
“I think our members, generally are not interested in the motion to dismiss. They think both sides need to be heard,” Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., who is part of GOP leadership, said Monday.
Trump was impeached by the Democratic-led House last month on charges of abuse of power over pushing Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden and obstruction of Congress in the probe.
With the impeachment trial starting in a matter of days, senators are still debating the rules of the proceedings. GOP senators are conferring privately about whether to allow a motion to dismiss the charges against the president or to call additional witnesses for testimony.
Trump suggested over the weekend he might prefer simply dismissing the charges rather than giving legitimacy to charges from the House, which he considers a “hoax.”
WATCH: How the White House and Congress are preparing for Senate impeachment trial
It was an extraordinary suggestion, but one being proposed by Trump allies with support from some GOP senators, including McConnell.
But it is clear McConnell does not have the votes needed from his GOP majority to do that.
Key Republicans, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, said they, too, would oppose a motion to dismiss the charges.
Collins is leading an effort among some Republicans, including Romney and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, to ensure the ground rules include plans to eventually consider voting to call witnesses.
“My position is that there should be a vote on whether or not witnesses should be called,” Collins said.
Romney said he wants to hear from John Bolton, the former national security adviser at the White House, who others have said raised alarms about the alternative foreign policy toward Ukraine being run led by Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
“I’ve said I’d like to hear from John Bolton,” Romney told reporters Monday. “I expect that barring some kind of surprise, I’ll be voting in favor of hearing from witnesses after those opening arguments.”
Democrats have been pushing Republicans, who have the majority in the Senate, to consider new testimony, arguing that fresh information has emerged during Pelosi’s monthlong delay in transmitting the charges.
McConnell drafting an organizing resolution that will outline the steps ahead. Approving it will be among the first votes senators take after they are sworn as jurors by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts for the Court of Impeachment.
Republicans control the chamber, 53-47, and are all but certain to acquit Trump. McConnell is hesitant to call new witnesses who would prolong the trial. He prefers to model Trump’s trial partly on the process used for then-President Bill Clinton’s trial in 1999.
Senators says if witnesses are allowed, some Republicans may also try to subpoena Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, who served on the board of a gas company in Ukraine while his father was vice president.
Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani has been pursing theories about the Bidens, but other Republicans are cool to embrace his work. The claims against the Bidens are unfounded.
It takes just 51 votes during the impeachment trial to approve rules or call witnesses. Just four GOP senators could form a majority with Democrats to insist on new testimony. It also would take only 51 senators to vote to dismiss the charges against Trump.
Most Republicans appear willing to go along with McConnell’s plan to start the trial first then consider witnesses later, rather than upfront, as Democrats want.
Collins is pushing to have at least the promise of witness votes included in the organizing resolution. She and the others appear to be gathering support.
“I’ve been working to make sure that we will have a process that we can take a vote on whether or not we need additional information, and yes, that would include witnesses,” Murkowski told reporters.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters the House vote might come Wednesday. “Could be,” he said.
Associated Press writers Matthew Daly, Andrew Taylor and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report.


pbs--2020-01-13--How the White House and Congress are preparing for Senate impeachment trial

Well , the president and the White House want this to begin as soon as possible , because they want it to end as soon as possible .
And they have been pushing for this Senate trial to be held on terms that are favorable for the president .
I want to walk you through what the president 's been saying .
And he 's been communicating on his favorite medium to communicate with people .
And that is on Twitter .
Here 's the first tweet from this weekend .
He wrote : `` Many believe that the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' — and here 's a very long descriptor — `` no evidence , no crime , read the transcripts , no pressure , impeachment hoax '' — it 's a mouthful — `` rather than outright dismissal , it gives the partisan Democratic witch-hunt credibility that it otherwise does not have .
I agree . ''
Judy , that is translation for he wants all the charges to be dismissed against him .
And he means that he does n't want a trial to be held at all .
He also went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi , and House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff , who he , of course , has been targeting in the past .
Here 's what he tweeted about them : `` Why did nervous Nancy allow corrupt politician shifty Schiff to lie before Congress ?
He must be a witness .
And so should she . ''
Now , that means that the president is saying that , one , I want the charges to be dismissed .
But if we 're going to have witnesses , we should have leaders in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Republicans have also been pushing for people like Hunter Biden , the son of former Vice President Joe Biden , to come before Congress .
Democrats have been pushing back against that .
The bottom line here is that the White House feels as though the president is being treated unfairly and that they want a trial that essentially says , look here , are all the things that the Democrats are doing wrong , let 's talk about that , let 's put that on display .

Yamiche Alcindor:
Well, the president and the White House want this to begin as soon as possible, because they want it to end as soon as possible.
And they have been pushing for this Senate trial to be held on terms that are favorable for the president.
I want to walk you through what the president's been saying. And he's been communicating on his favorite medium to communicate with people. And that is on Twitter.
Here's the first tweet from this weekend. He wrote: "Many believe that the Senate giving credence to a trial based on" — and here's a very long descriptor — "no evidence, no crime, read the transcripts, no pressure, impeachment hoax" — it's a mouthful — "rather than outright dismissal, it gives the partisan Democratic witch-hunt credibility that it otherwise does not have. I agree."
Judy, that is translation for he wants all the charges to be dismissed against him. And he means that he doesn't want a trial to be held at all.
He also went after Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, who he, of course, has been targeting in the past.
Here's what he tweeted about them: "Why did nervous Nancy allow corrupt politician shifty Schiff to lie before Congress? He must be a witness. And so should she."
Now, that means that the president is saying that, one, I want the charges to be dismissed. But if we're going to have witnesses, we should have leaders in the Democratic Party do that.
Of course, Republicans have also been pushing for people like Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, to come before Congress. Democrats have been pushing back against that.
The bottom line here is that the White House feels as though the president is being treated unfairly and that they want a trial that essentially says, look here, are all the things that the Democrats are doing wrong, let's talk about that, let's put that on display.


pbs--2020-01-13--As Booker drops out, Iowa polls show same 4 candidates atop Democratic field

With just three weeks until Iowa 's first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses , an increasingly close race there is exposing new rifts @ @ @ @ @ Desjardins is back with this report .

Judy Woodruff:
With just three weeks until Iowa's first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses, an increasingly close race there is exposing new rifts among the candidates.
Lisa Desjardins is back with this report.


pbs--2020-01-13--Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on Iowa caucus countdown, Sanders vs. Warren

To discuss all this , I 'm now joined by our Politics Monday team .
That 's Amy Walter of @ @ @ @ @ Public Radio 's `` Politics With Amy Walter , '' and Tamara Keith of NPR @ @ @ @ @ `` NPR Politics Podcast . ''
Hello to both of you .
It is Politics @ @ @ @ @ lot going on .
We are just , what , 21 days from the Iowa @ @ @ @ @ , let 's start with the polls .
Friday , we had the poll come @ @ @ @ @ Moines Register poll , with Bernie Sanders on top , a lot of conversation , @ @ @ @ @ , Joe Biden kind of bunched several points behind him .
But then today there @ @ @ @ @ we 're showing our viewers the Monmouth poll that has Joe Biden on top with @ @ @ @ @ bunched behind him , Bernie Sanders , Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren .
How do @ @ @ @ @ is going on ?

Judy Woodruff:
To discuss all this, I'm now joined by our Politics Monday team. That's Amy Walter of The Cook Political Report and Public Radio's "Politics With Amy Walter," and Tamara Keith of NPR. She also co-hosts the "NPR Politics Podcast."
Hello to both of you. It is Politics Monday. There's a lot going on. We are just, what, 21 days from the Iowa caucuses.
So, Amy, let's start with the polls.
Friday, we had the poll come out, the Iowa Des Moines Register poll, with Bernie Sanders on top, a lot of conversation, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden kind of bunched several points behind him.
But then today there's another poll, and we're showing our viewers the Monmouth poll that has Joe Biden on top with 24 percent, and then bunched behind him, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren.
How do we read this? What is going on?
(LAUGHTER)


pbs--2020-01-13--WATCH: McConnell says he'll 'strongly oppose' the war powers resolution

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he opposes a Senate resolution asserting that President Donald Trump must seek approval from Congress before engaging in further military action against Iran .
McConnell , a Kentucky Republican , said Monday that the Senate will “ soon ” debate a measure sponsored by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia .
The measure , co-sponsored by two Republicans , would send the wrong message to U.S. allies after the Trump administration killed Iran ’ s top general earlier this month , McConnell said .
Tehran responded to the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bases in Iraq that house American troops .
No casualties were reported .
The “ blunt instrument ” of a war powers resolution is no substitute for “ the studied oversight the Senate can exercise through hearings … and more tailored legislation , ” McConnell said .
“ We appear to have restored a measure of deterrence in the Middle East , ” McConnell said in a speech opening the Senate for the week .
“ So let ’ s not screw it up.
” His remarks came amid questions and fresh explanations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered a Jan. 3 strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani .
The Democrat-controlled House passed a separate war powers resolution last week .
The House measure is not binding on the president and does not require his signature .
But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi nonetheless insisted it “ has real teeth ” because “ it is a statement of the Congress of the United States.
” McConnell did not offer a timeline for Senate debate , saying only that it would take up the war powers resolution “ soon.
” He mocked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks the administration was preventing by killing Soleimani .
Trump did not consult with congressional leaders ahead of the attack that killed the Iranian general .
Afterward .
he sent Congress a notification explaining the rationale , but kept it classified .
He said Friday that Iranian militants had planned major attacks on four U.S. embassies .
Just hours earlier , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had said the U.S. didn ’ t know when or where attacks might occur .
McConnell stepped past the administration ’ s muddled explanations and noted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called “ career professionals ” who advised Trump on the issue .
“ I look forward to hearing our colleagues who want to quibble over the word ‘ imminent ’ explain just how close we should let the terrorists come to killing more Americans before we defend ourselves , ” McConnell said .
Two Republican senators , Mike Lee of Utah and and Rand Paul of Kentucky , have signed on as co-sponsors of Kaine ’ s resolution , which also is co-sponsored by Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin .
Lee said a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials on the Iran strike was “ probably the worst briefing I ’ ve seen , at least on a military issue , ” in the nine years he ’ s served in the Senate .
Paul also criticized the briefing as inadequate and said Congress should not abdicate its “ duty under the Constitution to debate when we go to war .
”

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he opposes a Senate resolution asserting that President Donald Trump must seek approval from Congress before engaging in further military action against Iran.
McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said Monday that the Senate will “soon” debate a measure sponsored by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia. The measure, co-sponsored by two Republicans, would send the wrong message to U.S. allies after the Trump administration killed Iran’s top general earlier this month, McConnell said.
Tehran responded to the U.S. attack by launching missiles at two military bases in Iraq that house American troops. No casualties were reported.
The “blunt instrument” of a war powers resolution is no substitute for “the studied oversight the Senate can exercise through hearings … and more tailored legislation,” McConnell said.
“We appear to have restored a measure of deterrence in the Middle East,” McConnell said in a speech opening the Senate for the week. “So let’s not screw it up.”
His remarks came amid questions and fresh explanations from the Trump administration about why it ordered a Jan. 3 strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
The Democrat-controlled House passed a separate war powers resolution last week. The House measure is not binding on the president and does not require his signature. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi nonetheless insisted it “has real teeth” because “it is a statement of the Congress of the United States.”
McConnell did not offer a timeline for Senate debate, saying only that it would take up the war powers resolution “soon.” He mocked Democrats for questioning what “imminent” attacks the administration was preventing by killing Soleimani.
Trump did not consult with congressional leaders ahead of the attack that killed the Iranian general. Afterward. he sent Congress a notification explaining the rationale, but kept it classified. He said Friday that Iranian militants had planned major attacks on four U.S. embassies. Just hours earlier, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had said the U.S. didn’t know when or where attacks might occur.
McConnell stepped past the administration’s muddled explanations and noted that Democrats are now quibbling with what he called “career professionals” who advised Trump on the issue.
“I look forward to hearing our colleagues who want to quibble over the word ‘imminent’ explain just how close we should let the terrorists come to killing more Americans before we defend ourselves,” McConnell said.
Two Republican senators, Mike Lee of Utah and and Rand Paul of Kentucky, have signed on as co-sponsors of Kaine’s resolution, which also is co-sponsored by Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin.
Lee said a briefing last week by Pompeo and other officials on the Iran strike was “probably the worst briefing I’ve seen, at least on a military issue,” in the nine years he’s served in the Senate.
Paul also criticized the briefing as inadequate and said Congress should not abdicate its “duty under the Constitution to debate when we go to war.”


pbs--2020-01-13--Wanting change, Democratic voters grapple with who can win

DOVER , N.H. ( AP ) — The Democrats standing in a cold New Hampshire parking lot are desperate for change after years of Donald Trump ’ s turbulent presidency .
But like Democratic voters across the country , they ’ re grappling with a core question as they size up their party ’ s leading candidates just three weeks before primary voting begins : How much change is too much in 2020 ?
It is a question that has plagued candidates and voters alike over the last year in the Democratic Party ’ s quest to identify the person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And on the eve of the party ’ s first primary , voters are torn over a slate of high-profile candidates — ranging from a self-avowed socialist to a billionaire Wall Street baron — who represent the broad spectrum of change , ideologically and symbolically , that is today ’ s deeply divided Democratic Party .
Just ask the two dozen voters who waited outside a recent over-packed Dover , New Hampshire , campaign appearance for Elizabeth Warren , the progressive Massachusetts senator and the only woman in the top tier , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bold change.
” “ I want to see massive change .
I worry about my daughter ’ s future — she ’ s 6 , ” said 38-year-old Democrat Margaret Langsenkamp , who hasn ’ t settled on a candidate but was leaning toward Warren or U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey , who ended his campaign on Monday .
“ But I ’ m also practical about what the American people can stomach .
We have to beat Trump.
” Langsenkamp conceded that Warren , her preferred candidate , might struggle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ socialist leanings.
” With four candidates knotted at the top of primary polls , it could take several more months for the Democratic Party to sort out its high-stakes dilemma .
Party officials have so far downplayed concerns about a protracted primary battle — never mind the oft-whispered prospect of a so-called contested convention — but they are encouraging the candidates to keep it positive as they debate the kind of change the party should fight for .
“ The voters are thirsting , desperately , for aspirational messages , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ They want to hear about something positive .
They want to hear about a moving-forward sort of change .
They want to be told that there ’ s a better tomorrow .
If you look back over the last 100 years , that ’ s been the winning message of every Democratic presidential candidate.
” Buckley downplayed the differences between the candidates on defining issues like health care , the economy and education , suggesting they all favor a similar path forward , even if some would change the system faster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ‘ Are we going to get there tomorrow or are we going to get there next week ?
’ ” he said .
But symbolically at least , each of the top four candidates represents a distinct path forward .
Former Vice President Joe Biden , a 77-year-old lifelong politician , offers primary voters a safe and familiar option while emphasizing a pragmatic approach to governing .
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , 78 , is embracing his status as a democratic socialist and the only top-tier candidate who would fight to replace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government-backed universal system immediately after taking office .
Warren , 70 , is careful to describe herself as a capitalist , but she also has a record fighting corporations and agrees with Sanders ’ call to transform the nation ’ s political and economic systems .
And Pete Buttigieg , a 37-year-old Midwestern former mayor who is openly gay and served in the military , represents dramatic change on paper but is more aligned with Biden on policy .
With Iowa ’ s caucuses just 21 days away , and New Hampshire ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of urgency was palpable as rival campaigns sought to distinguish themselves while courting primary voters across several states over the weekend .
Biden , campaigning in Nevada , dispatched another popular moderate to New Hampshire to remind primary voters that the path to the White House runs through Midwestern states where many worry his party is veering too far left .
Rep. Conor Lamb , whose 2017 special-election victory in a deep-red western Pennsylvania district was the first sign of a post-Trump blue wave , told 30 or so voters in a local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ represents the most important kind of change in Washington : “ He ’ s putting his chips on things that can actually get done.
” In an interview , Lamb raised doubts about whether swing voters in his district would embrace the kind of change that Warren and Sanders are fighting for .
“ It ’ s hard to say ” whether Warren or Sanders could beat Trump in a general election , he said .
“ I can just say they ’ re going to have a lot of hills to climb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticism from the party ’ s left wing that Biden ’ s approach is too cautious , his campaign notes that his policy agenda is more ambitious in some cases than that of Hillary Clinton in 2016 .
And Biden ’ s support for a government-backed “ public option ” in health care , while more modest than Sanders ’ preferred “ Medicare for All , ” would arguably represent the most dramatic legislative achievement since President Lyndon B. Johnson ’ s Great Society .
“ We can bring back this country in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of progress that we ’ ve never seen before , ” Biden declared at a weekend appearance in Las Vegas .
Buttigieg has cast himself as a different kind of change agent .
The boyish-looking Democrat represents the generational change that has long powered shifts in Democratic leadership , starting with John F. Kennedy 60 years ago .
He is also the first top-tier contender for a major party nomination who is gay , a distinction that quickly made him a celebrity in major fundraising circles .
He typically mentions his age and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more broadly focused on the urgency a young outsider brings to the nation ’ s most pressing policy problems .
He regularly asks his audiences , “ Are you ready to change the channel ?
” — a question that might be aimed at Trump , but could be just as easily referring to Biden , Warren or Sanders .
“ I ’ m running to be the president who can help America , pick up the pieces and move on to what comes next , ” Buttigieg said over the weekend at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vegas Strip .
Polls help illustrate Democratic voters ’ struggle to decide the kind of change they want in 2020 .
A Quinnipiac University poll found last fall that half of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters favor a candidate who represents major change — in style and policy , while about 4 in 10 preferred a nominee who would pursue modest changes considered easier to pass into law .
It was much the same in a September poll by Fox News in which half of Democratic and likely Democratic voters said they preferred a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system , while just about as many said they wanted a return to the political system before Trump ’ s presidency .
Warren , like Sanders , has staked her candidacy on the notion that a return to the system that preceded Trump is not good enough .
“ Our country is in a crisis — a crisis — and Washington insiders and media pundits and even people in our party don ’ t want to admit it , ” she said in Dover as the overflow crowd listened from the parking lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vague campaign that kind of nibbles around the edges of what is broken is a winning strategy .
They are wrong .
If the best Democrats can offer is business as usual after Donald Trump , Democrats will lose .
”

DOVER, N.H. (AP) — The Democrats standing in a cold New Hampshire parking lot are desperate for change after years of Donald Trump’s turbulent presidency.
But like Democratic voters across the country, they’re grappling with a core question as they size up their party’s leading candidates just three weeks before primary voting begins: How much change is too much in 2020?
It is a question that has plagued candidates and voters alike over the last year in the Democratic Party’s quest to identify the person best positioned to defeat Trump in November. And on the eve of the party’s first primary, voters are torn over a slate of high-profile candidates — ranging from a self-avowed socialist to a billionaire Wall Street baron — who represent the broad spectrum of change, ideologically and symbolically, that is today’s deeply divided Democratic Party.
“The voters are thirsting, desperately, for aspirational messages.”
Just ask the two dozen voters who waited outside a recent over-packed Dover, New Hampshire, campaign appearance for Elizabeth Warren, the progressive Massachusetts senator and the only woman in the top tier, whose campaign mantra is “big, bold change.”
“I want to see massive change. I worry about my daughter’s future — she’s 6,” said 38-year-old Democrat Margaret Langsenkamp, who hasn’t settled on a candidate but was leaning toward Warren or U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, who ended his campaign on Monday. “But I’m also practical about what the American people can stomach. We have to beat Trump.”
Langsenkamp conceded that Warren, her preferred candidate, might struggle in a general election to defend her “socialist leanings.”
With four candidates knotted at the top of primary polls, it could take several more months for the Democratic Party to sort out its high-stakes dilemma. Party officials have so far downplayed concerns about a protracted primary battle — never mind the oft-whispered prospect of a so-called contested convention — but they are encouraging the candidates to keep it positive as they debate the kind of change the party should fight for.
“The voters are thirsting, desperately, for aspirational messages,” said New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley. “They want to hear about something positive. They want to hear about a moving-forward sort of change. They want to be told that there’s a better tomorrow. If you look back over the last 100 years, that’s been the winning message of every Democratic presidential candidate.”
Buckley downplayed the differences between the candidates on defining issues like health care, the economy and education, suggesting they all favor a similar path forward, even if some would change the system faster than others.
“It’s, ‘Are we going to get there tomorrow or are we going to get there next week?’” he said.
But symbolically at least, each of the top four candidates represents a distinct path forward.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, a 77-year-old lifelong politician, offers primary voters a safe and familiar option while emphasizing a pragmatic approach to governing. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, 78, is embracing his status as a democratic socialist and the only top-tier candidate who would fight to replace the private health insurance market with a government-backed universal system immediately after taking office. Warren, 70, is careful to describe herself as a capitalist, but she also has a record fighting corporations and agrees with Sanders’ call to transform the nation’s political and economic systems. And Pete Buttigieg, a 37-year-old Midwestern former mayor who is openly gay and served in the military, represents dramatic change on paper but is more aligned with Biden on policy.
With Iowa’s caucuses just 21 days away, and New Hampshire’s eight days later, the sense of urgency was palpable as rival campaigns sought to distinguish themselves while courting primary voters across several states over the weekend.
Biden, campaigning in Nevada, dispatched another popular moderate to New Hampshire to remind primary voters that the path to the White House runs through Midwestern states where many worry his party is veering too far left.
Rep. Conor Lamb, whose 2017 special-election victory in a deep-red western Pennsylvania district was the first sign of a post-Trump blue wave, told 30 or so voters in a local activist’s living room that Biden represents the most important kind of change in Washington: “He’s putting his chips on things that can actually get done.”
In an interview, Lamb raised doubts about whether swing voters in his district would embrace the kind of change that Warren and Sanders are fighting for.
“It’s hard to say” whether Warren or Sanders could beat Trump in a general election, he said. “I can just say they’re going to have a lot of hills to climb in western Pennsylvania.”
Aware of the criticism from the party’s left wing that Biden’s approach is too cautious, his campaign notes that his policy agenda is more ambitious in some cases than that of Hillary Clinton in 2016. And Biden’s support for a government-backed “public option” in health care, while more modest than Sanders’ preferred “Medicare for All,” would arguably represent the most dramatic legislative achievement since President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society.
“We can bring back this country in a way that is a new level of progress that we’ve never seen before,” Biden declared at a weekend appearance in Las Vegas.
Buttigieg has cast himself as a different kind of change agent.
The boyish-looking Democrat represents the generational change that has long powered shifts in Democratic leadership, starting with John F. Kennedy 60 years ago. He is also the first top-tier contender for a major party nomination who is gay, a distinction that quickly made him a celebrity in major fundraising circles.
He typically mentions his age and sexuality only indirectly in a core message more broadly focused on the urgency a young outsider brings to the nation’s most pressing policy problems. He regularly asks his audiences, “Are you ready to change the channel?” — a question that might be aimed at Trump, but could be just as easily referring to Biden, Warren or Sanders.
“I’m running to be the president who can help America, pick up the pieces and move on to what comes next,” Buttigieg said over the weekend at a union hall just off the Las Vegas Strip.
Polls help illustrate Democratic voters’ struggle to decide the kind of change they want in 2020.
A Quinnipiac University poll found last fall that half of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters favor a candidate who represents major change — in style and policy, while about 4 in 10 preferred a nominee who would pursue modest changes considered easier to pass into law.
It was much the same in a September poll by Fox News in which half of Democratic and likely Democratic voters said they preferred a candidate who would fundamentally change the political system, while just about as many said they wanted a return to the political system before Trump’s presidency.
Warren, like Sanders, has staked her candidacy on the notion that a return to the system that preceded Trump is not good enough.
“Our country is in a crisis — a crisis — and Washington insiders and media pundits and even people in our party don’t want to admit it,” she said in Dover as the overflow crowd listened from the parking lot. “They think that wanting some vague campaign that kind of nibbles around the edges of what is broken is a winning strategy. They are wrong. If the best Democrats can offer is business as usual after Donald Trump, Democrats will lose.”


pbs--2020-01-13--Early state voters say they're more swayed by basic issues than impeachment, Iran

MANCHESTER , N.H. ( AP ) — President Donald Trump has an impeachment trial looming , and rising tensions with Iran have captured headlines .
But standing in the back of a New Hampshire brewery with three varieties of IPA on tap , Janie Shaklee said the political basics are much more likely to decide her vote .
“ The economy is much realer to me , ” said the 69-year-old retired professor who was attending a campaign event for businessman Andrew Yang ahead of her state ’ s Feb. 11 primary .
“ The world can blow apart at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s always been that way … anything can happen.
” Less than two weeks old , 2020 has been characterized by a striking amount of political turmoil at home and abroad .
But for many in the states that will soon begin choosing the Democratic presidential nominee , the same bread-and-butter issues that have long dominated the primary — health care , higher wages , student debt , climate change — remain top of mind .
“ Many Americans , for their own mental health , have taken Trump and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and are doing their best to believe that it ’ s some sort of aberration that ’ s happening during our time and still staying focused on their own family , ” said Raymond Buckley , chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party .
“ The unpredictability of Trump , his unhinged decision-making , he ’ s made it very difficult and a challenge to the average voter that overwhelms them.
” That sentiment is also playing out in Iowa , home to the Feb. 3 caucuses that usher in the Democratic contest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Waukee , said she doesn ’ t see Iran remaining an issue over the long term .
“ I think it ’ s just going to fade off , ” said Jorgensen , who was planning to back New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker before he dropped out of the race on Monday .
“ I don ’ t think the world is ready for another war.
” Andrew Feldman , a Democratic strategist in Washington , agreed that Iran in recent days , just like impeachment in recent weeks , is “ still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ They may have an opinion on it , they may know about it , but it doesn ’ t one-up the challenges they ’ re having with health care , the challenges they ’ re having with hundreds of thousands of dollars of student debt , ” Feldman said of voters .
“ The issues that we think are important here in the Beltway don ’ t actually make it to the kitchen table as issues that voters are talking about.
” The war in Iraq and other major foreign policy issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including in 2004 and 2008 .
But domestic policy has dominated the 2020 contest for more than a year , as the candidates spent large chunks of their first debates arguing over whether the country was ready to fully scrap private insurance for a universal , government-run health care system under a “ Medicare for All ” program .
Foreign policy came up in a more substantial way during the December debate , but many Democratic voters say that the situation in Iran and impeachment have just increased their dislike for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make it that much more important to get him out of there , ” said Michael Ginsberg , a 68-year-old New Hampshire resident who identified himself as an independent voter .
“ I ’ m still not 100 % convinced about who is the most likely person to do that.
” Polls in the early states , as well as nationally , show no clear front-runner emerging between Vice President Joe Biden , Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his foreign policy experience , while Sanders is reminding voters that he opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq at a time when few others , including Biden , did .
Buttigieg is a combat veteran who has subtly questioned Biden ’ s judgment on the Iraq War , telling a recent New Hampshire crowd , “ As a military intelligence officer on the ground in Afghanistan , I was trained to ask these questions before a decision was made.
” Warren spent the summer rising in the polls on the strength of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including imposing a wealth tax on fortunes worth more than $ 50 million , creating universal child and health care systems and wiping out student debt .
She hasn ’ t focused as much on impeachment or Iran while facing campaign audiences — but was forced to do so by a protester last week , during a stop in the riverside town of Dover , New Hampshire .
“ Why are you siding with Iran ?
” a man yelled , calling Warren a fraud .
After he ’ d been escorted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the president increasing tensions with Iran .
“ Does this have anything to do with the fact that Donald Trump is right on the eve of an impeachment hearing ?
” she asked .
“ This man is an embarrassment .
He is now clearly a danger to the United States and the world .
We need to get him out.
” But then Warren pivoted back to her usual , heavily biographical stump speech .
And when a voter asked if her litany of domestic plans was “ a blueprint for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ Oh , yes !
” “ Let ’ s make this a country with long-term vision , ” she added .
“ Not just short-term vision.
” Associated Press writer Sara Burnett contributed to this report from Des Moines , Iowa .

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — President Donald Trump has an impeachment trial looming, and rising tensions with Iran have captured headlines. But standing in the back of a New Hampshire brewery with three varieties of IPA on tap, Janie Shaklee said the political basics are much more likely to decide her vote.
“The economy is much realer to me,” said the 69-year-old retired professor who was attending a campaign event for businessman Andrew Yang ahead of her state’s Feb. 11 primary. “The world can blow apart at any point, no matter what. It’s always been that way … anything can happen.”
Less than two weeks old, 2020 has been characterized by a striking amount of political turmoil at home and abroad. But for many in the states that will soon begin choosing the Democratic presidential nominee, the same bread-and-butter issues that have long dominated the primary — health care, higher wages, student debt, climate change — remain top of mind.
Iran in recent days, just like impeachment in recent weeks, is “still not the main focus of voters.”
“Many Americans, for their own mental health, have taken Trump and his presidency and put it into a box and are doing their best to believe that it’s some sort of aberration that’s happening during our time and still staying focused on their own family,” said Raymond Buckley, chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. “The unpredictability of Trump, his unhinged decision-making, he’s made it very difficult and a challenge to the average voter that overwhelms them.”
That sentiment is also playing out in Iowa, home to the Feb. 3 caucuses that usher in the Democratic contest. Farah Jorgensen, a nurse from Waukee, said she doesn’t see Iran remaining an issue over the long term.
“I think it’s just going to fade off,” said Jorgensen, who was planning to back New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker before he dropped out of the race on Monday. “I don’t think the world is ready for another war.”
Andrew Feldman, a Democratic strategist in Washington, agreed that Iran in recent days, just like impeachment in recent weeks, is “still not the main focus of voters.”
“They may have an opinion on it, they may know about it, but it doesn’t one-up the challenges they’re having with health care, the challenges they’re having with hundreds of thousands of dollars of student debt,” Feldman said of voters. “The issues that we think are important here in the Beltway don’t actually make it to the kitchen table as issues that voters are talking about.”
The war in Iraq and other major foreign policy issues cast long shadows over past Democratic primaries, including in 2004 and 2008. But domestic policy has dominated the 2020 contest for more than a year, as the candidates spent large chunks of their first debates arguing over whether the country was ready to fully scrap private insurance for a universal, government-run health care system under a “Medicare for All” program.
Foreign policy came up in a more substantial way during the December debate, but many Democratic voters say that the situation in Iran and impeachment have just increased their dislike for the president.
“All this does is make it that much more important to get him out of there,” said Michael Ginsberg, a 68-year-old New Hampshire resident who identified himself as an independent voter. “I’m still not 100% convinced about who is the most likely person to do that.”
Polls in the early states, as well as nationally, show no clear front-runner emerging between Vice President Joe Biden, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana.
Biden has lately talked up his foreign policy experience, while Sanders is reminding voters that he opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq at a time when few others, including Biden, did. Buttigieg is a combat veteran who has subtly questioned Biden’s judgment on the Iraq War, telling a recent New Hampshire crowd, “As a military intelligence officer on the ground in Afghanistan, I was trained to ask these questions before a decision was made.”
Warren spent the summer rising in the polls on the strength of her sweeping plans to tackle top domestic issues, including imposing a wealth tax on fortunes worth more than $50 million, creating universal child and health care systems and wiping out student debt. She hasn’t focused as much on impeachment or Iran while facing campaign audiences — but was forced to do so by a protester last week, during a stop in the riverside town of Dover, New Hampshire.
“Why are you siding with Iran?” a man yelled, calling Warren a fraud. After he’d been escorted out, the senator questioned the timing of the president increasing tensions with Iran.
“Does this have anything to do with the fact that Donald Trump is right on the eve of an impeachment hearing?” she asked. “This man is an embarrassment. He is now clearly a danger to the United States and the world. We need to get him out.”
But then Warren pivoted back to her usual, heavily biographical stump speech. And when a voter asked if her litany of domestic plans was “a blueprint for the American dream,” Warren exclaimed: “Oh, yes!”
“Let’s make this a country with long-term vision,” she added. “Not just short-term vision.”
Associated Press writer Sara Burnett contributed to this report from Des Moines, Iowa.


pbs--2020-01-13--Cory Booker drops out of 2020 presidential race

Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker ended his bid for the 2020 presidential nomination Monday , after polling and fundraising struggles .
Amid criticism that the 2020 Democratic field is lacking in minority representation , the New Jersey senator ’ s exit follows departures from other minority candidates , including California Sen. Kamala Harris and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro .
Booker ’ s decision leaves 12 Democratic candidates and three non-white candidates in what was once the party ’ s most diverse primary field .
Booker entered the race last February as a rising star of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through with public polling numbers in the single digits .
He struggled to meet the Democratic National Committee ’ s increasingly tighter thresholds to qualify for debates , which disqualified him from the December and January events .
“ Our campaign has reached the point where we need more money to scale up and continue building a campaign that can win — money we don ’ t have , and money that is harder to raise because I won ’ t be on the next debate stage and because the urgent business of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington , ” Booker said in a Medium post on Monday .
Despite Booker ’ s background as a Yale-educated Rhodes Scholars raised by two IBM executives , he earned a reputation for his efforts to connect with low-income Americans .
He moved to inner-city Newark after graduating from Yale Law School .
He launched his 2020 presidential bid branding himself as an antidote to President Donald Trump with a message of love and acceptance .
His campaign called attention to economic inequality , gun violence and criminal justice reform , but his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take hold throughout the country .
In announcing the end of his campaign , Booker vowed to “ carry this fight forward.
” “ I ’ ll never abandon my faith in what we can accomplish when we join together .
”

Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker ended his bid for the 2020 presidential nomination Monday, after polling and fundraising struggles.
Amid criticism that the 2020 Democratic field is lacking in minority representation, the New Jersey senator’s exit follows departures from other minority candidates, including California Sen. Kamala Harris and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro. Booker’s decision leaves 12 Democratic candidates and three non-white candidates in what was once the party’s most diverse primary field.
It’s with a full heart that I share this news—I’m suspending my campaign for president. To my team, supporters, and everyone who gave me a shot—thank you. I am so proud of what we built, and I feel nothing but faith in what we can accomplish together. pic.twitter.com/Fxvc549vlJ — Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) January 13, 2020
Booker entered the race last February as a rising star of the Democratic Party, but failed to break through with public polling numbers in the single digits. He struggled to meet the Democratic National Committee’s increasingly tighter thresholds to qualify for debates, which disqualified him from the December and January events.
“Our campaign has reached the point where we need more money to scale up and continue building a campaign that can win — money we don’t have, and money that is harder to raise because I won’t be on the next debate stage and because the urgent business of impeachment will rightly be keeping me in Washington,” Booker said in a Medium post on Monday.
Despite Booker’s background as a Yale-educated Rhodes Scholars raised by two IBM executives, he earned a reputation for his efforts to connect with low-income Americans. He moved to inner-city Newark after graduating from Yale Law School.
He launched his 2020 presidential bid branding himself as an antidote to President Donald Trump with a message of love and acceptance. His campaign called attention to economic inequality, gun violence and criminal justice reform, but his connection with New Jersey residents failed to take hold throughout the country.
In announcing the end of his campaign, Booker vowed to “carry this fight forward.”
“I’ll never abandon my faith in what we can accomplish when we join together.”


pbs--2020-01-13--2020 Democratic race is wide open in Iowa as caucuses near

DES MOINES , Iowa ( AP ) — Presidential candidates have swarmed Iowa ’ s rolling landscape for more than a year , making their pitch to potential supporters on campuses , county fairgrounds and in high school gymnasiums .
But three weeks before the caucuses usher in the Democratic contest , the battle for the state is wide open .
A cluster of candidates , including Sens .
Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts , along with former Vice President Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , enter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of winning Iowa ’ s caucuses .
A poll released Friday by The Des Moines Register and CNN found them all with similar levels of support .
For two decades , Iowa has had a solid record of backing the ultimate Democratic nominee .
A clear victory in its caucuses next month could set the tone for the races that follow in New Hampshire , Nevada and South Carolina .
But an inconclusive result or one in which several candidates are bunched together near the top could preview a long , brutal fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a nominee might not be resolved until the party convenes in Milwaukee this summer to formally declare its candidate to take on President Donald Trump .
The unusually fluid dynamic raises the stakes for the leading candidates heading into Tuesday ’ s debate , which will be the final televised gathering for the White House hopefuls before the caucuses .
Their closing arguments in Iowa could be complicated by Trump ’ s impeachment trial , which would require senators in the race to return to Washington .
And the fallout from Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strike last week to kill a top Iranian general could steal attention that would otherwise center on the presidential race .
It ’ s against that backdrop that candidates must win over people like Barb Cameron , a 76-year-old who attended a recent Warren event in the river town of Burlington .
“ I ’ m undecided , ” she said .
“ I want to vote for a woman .
But , more than that , I want to vote for someone with real leadership capability.
” “ I like Pete , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Cameron added .
“ And I don ’ t think Biden can beat Trump.
” If other voters agree , Biden ’ s candidacy could face steep headwinds in Iowa .
The former vice president began as the early favorite , in large part because of a sense that he is best positioned to defeat Trump .
If that falters , the central rationale for his campaign risks being undermined .
Biden faces a far more favorable climate in later contests , especially South Carolina , where support from black voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his rivals .
And the focus on global affairs after the Iranian conflict could lift Biden , who built a resume over decades in Washington as a leading voice on foreign policy .
JoAnn Hardy , chair of the Cerro Gordo County Democrats in northern Iowa , said a shift in voter focus would be an advantage .
But even that prediction came with a caveat .
“ I think there ’ s a lot of support , but for most people it ’ s not enthusiastic support , ” Hardy said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve got ta do what we ’ ve got ta do to beat Trump.
” While Biden is positioning himself as a steady hand in the face of international instability , the Iranian episode also leaves an opening for Sanders to draw a sharp contrast with Biden over the Iraq War , which Sanders opposed .
The Vermont senator is drawing sharper contrasts with Biden as he tries to appeal to some of the white , working-class voters , particularly in rural areas , that Sanders ’ advisers believe may be open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rich and powerful .
Without naming him , Sanders kept pressure on Biden Sunday , reminding a forum in Davenport that he opposed the 2002 authorization for military force in Iraq .
“ In 2002 , I helped lead the effort against the war in Iraq , which turned out to be the worst foreign policy blunder in the modern history of America , ” Sanders said .
“ The war in Iraq was based on a series of lies.
” Sanders ’ campaign volunteers have reportedly been instructed to tell voters that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are “ highly educated , more affluent people ” and that she ’ s failing to expand her support .
Those tactics brought a rare broadside against the senator from Warren , who said Sunday that she was “ disappointed ” in Sanders and suggested he ’ s too divisive to defeat Trump .
Still , Sanders ’ position in Iowa is improving and he ’ s attracting large crowds .
His campaign says he spoke to nearly 6,000 people across 16 events in the state earlier this month .
But some Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senator ’ s team more active on the ground in Iowa .
Suzanne Costello , a farmer from Kellogg , Iowa , is a longtime Sanders supporter and volunteer , knocking on doors in Powesheik County , a county the senator won in 2016 .
“ I think they mis-gauged the trajectory of the race , ” she said .
“ I don ’ t think they came out in force enough in our area soon enough , so now I feel like we ’ re kind of playing catch-up ” in organizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sanders campaign for months about the lack of resources in her area , and now she feels they ’ re finally sending more staff and resources to help knock on doors .
Indeed , Sanders ’ campaign says they have one of the biggest teams in Iowa , with more than 250 staffers on the ground and 23 offices across the state .
That significant staff footprint coupled with the consistently large crowds has Sanders ’ advisers privately predicting victory in Iowa .
Warren ’ s campaign is still seen as one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state , as she ’ s had organizers holding intimate local events with potential caucusgoers across Iowa for nearly a year .
Her aides will only disclose that they have more than 100 paid staff and more than 20 offices in Iowa , but most operatives on the ground believe her team is nearly twice that , as Warren staffers are constantly seen at local party events and out knocking on doors .
On a cold Sunday morning , with snow blanketing the ground , she turned out around 300 people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There , she was introduced by former Housing Secretary Julian Castro , who endorsed her last week after exiting the presidential race .
He made an electability pitch , arguing that Warren “ can unify Democrats to beat Donald Trump.
” Buttigieg has also assembled a robust statewide organization that puts him in a strong position for someone who was virtually unknown nationally a year ago .
He consistently draws larger crowds than his rivals who have been in politics for decades .
Since September , the 37-year-old Buttigieg — touting a message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pragmatism — has been drawing a significant share of first-time caucusgoers into his ranks , including about a third of the 50 caucus leaders who turned out in Ottumwa for caucus training Thursday evening .
Despite the hopeful tone and intellectual depth , Buttigieg has struggled with some in his own generation looking for more overhaul in Washington than the moderate from Indiana espouses .
“ I really like his temperament and his style , ” said Parthi Kandavel , a Des Moines middle school teacher who recently traveled to Burlington with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ My concern is his commitment to addressing income inequality.
” And though Iowa ’ s population is 90 percent white , Buttigieg ’ s struggle to attract support from minority voters has crept into his Iowa campaign .
During a rally Sunday in Des Moines , Black Lives Matter supporters interrupted Buttigieg , shouting and chanting , before being escorted out by police .
In another warning sign for Buttigieg , he dropped 9 percentage points from November in the Register/CNN Iowa poll .
Still , the final weeks of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Candidate support is known to shift even in the final days before the caucuses , and the polling leader three weeks out is by no means assured a win .
That leaves room for an unexpected candidate to break ahead .
Sen. Cory Booker is continuing to campaign feverishly in Iowa , and while his campaign leadership is seen as one of the strongest on the ground , he remains far behind his opponents in polling and staffing numbers .
It ’ s Sen. Amy Klobuchar who has Iowa political operatives taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s attracted growing crowds and a fundraising surge that helped her invest in her operation in Iowa .
She now has more than 100 staffers on the ground , and 19 field offices across the state — fewer than most of the top-tier candidates , but a healthy infusion at a key time .
But it remains to be seen whether Klobuchar ’ s late investment can compete with the seasoned staffers of campaigns like Warren ’ s and even Booker ’ s , which have been organizing supporters for months in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is how you take these people that are now seriously kicking Klobuchar ’ s tires and turn them into precinct captains and have them help recruit other people for you , ” said veteran Iowa Democratic Party operative Jeff Link , who is unaffiliated with any campaign .
“ I think she can .
”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Presidential candidates have swarmed Iowa’s rolling landscape for more than a year, making their pitch to potential supporters on campuses, county fairgrounds and in high school gymnasiums. But three weeks before the caucuses usher in the Democratic contest, the battle for the state is wide open.
A cluster of candidates, including Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, along with former Vice President Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, enter the final stretch with a plausible chance of winning Iowa’s caucuses. A poll released Friday by The Des Moines Register and CNN found them all with similar levels of support.
For two decades, Iowa has had a solid record of backing the ultimate Democratic nominee. A clear victory in its caucuses next month could set the tone for the races that follow in New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.
But an inconclusive result or one in which several candidates are bunched together near the top could preview a long, brutal fight ahead. Some Democrats fear the question of a nominee might not be resolved until the party convenes in Milwaukee this summer to formally declare its candidate to take on President Donald Trump.
The unusually fluid dynamic raises the stakes for the leading candidates heading into Tuesday’s debate, which will be the final televised gathering for the White House hopefuls before the caucuses. Their closing arguments in Iowa could be complicated by Trump’s impeachment trial, which would require senators in the race to return to Washington. And the fallout from Trump’s surprise decision to launch a strike last week to kill a top Iranian general could steal attention that would otherwise center on the presidential race.
It’s against that backdrop that candidates must win over people like Barb Cameron, a 76-year-old who attended a recent Warren event in the river town of Burlington.
“I’m undecided,” she said. “I want to vote for a woman. But, more than that, I want to vote for someone with real leadership capability.”
“I like Pete, though I don’t know enough,” Cameron added. “And I don’t think Biden can beat Trump.”
If other voters agree, Biden’s candidacy could face steep headwinds in Iowa. The former vice president began as the early favorite, in large part because of a sense that he is best positioned to defeat Trump. If that falters, the central rationale for his campaign risks being undermined.
Biden faces a far more favorable climate in later contests, especially South Carolina, where support from black voters has given him a substantial lead over his rivals.
And the focus on global affairs after the Iranian conflict could lift Biden, who built a resume over decades in Washington as a leading voice on foreign policy. JoAnn Hardy, chair of the Cerro Gordo County Democrats in northern Iowa, said a shift in voter focus would be an advantage.
But even that prediction came with a caveat.
“I think there’s a lot of support, but for most people it’s not enthusiastic support,” Hardy said. “It’s like, we’ve gotta do what we’ve gotta do to beat Trump.”
While Biden is positioning himself as a steady hand in the face of international instability, the Iranian episode also leaves an opening for Sanders to draw a sharp contrast with Biden over the Iraq War, which Sanders opposed. The Vermont senator is drawing sharper contrasts with Biden as he tries to appeal to some of the white, working-class voters, particularly in rural areas, that Sanders’ advisers believe may be open to his message of taking on the rich and powerful.
Without naming him, Sanders kept pressure on Biden Sunday, reminding a forum in Davenport that he opposed the 2002 authorization for military force in Iraq.
“In 2002, I helped lead the effort against the war in Iraq, which turned out to be the worst foreign policy blunder in the modern history of America,” Sanders said. “The war in Iraq was based on a series of lies.”
Sanders’ campaign volunteers have reportedly been instructed to tell voters that are leaning toward Warren that her supporters are “highly educated, more affluent people” and that she’s failing to expand her support. Those tactics brought a rare broadside against the senator from Warren, who said Sunday that she was “disappointed” in Sanders and suggested he’s too divisive to defeat Trump.
Still, Sanders’ position in Iowa is improving and he’s attracting large crowds. His campaign says he spoke to nearly 6,000 people across 16 events in the state earlier this month.
But some Sanders supporters say they want to see the senator’s team more active on the ground in Iowa. Suzanne Costello, a farmer from Kellogg, Iowa, is a longtime Sanders supporter and volunteer, knocking on doors in Powesheik County, a county the senator won in 2016.
“I think they mis-gauged the trajectory of the race,” she said. “I don’t think they came out in force enough in our area soon enough, so now I feel like we’re kind of playing catch-up” in organizing.
Costello said she had complained to the Sanders campaign for months about the lack of resources in her area, and now she feels they’re finally sending more staff and resources to help knock on doors.
Indeed, Sanders’ campaign says they have one of the biggest teams in Iowa, with more than 250 staffers on the ground and 23 offices across the state. That significant staff footprint coupled with the consistently large crowds has Sanders’ advisers privately predicting victory in Iowa.
Warren’s campaign is still seen as one of the most seasoned and best-organized in the state, as she’s had organizers holding intimate local events with potential caucusgoers across Iowa for nearly a year. Her aides will only disclose that they have more than 100 paid staff and more than 20 offices in Iowa, but most operatives on the ground believe her team is nearly twice that, as Warren staffers are constantly seen at local party events and out knocking on doors. On a cold Sunday morning, with snow blanketing the ground, she turned out around 300 people to an elementary school gymnasium in Marshalltown.
There, she was introduced by former Housing Secretary Julian Castro, who endorsed her last week after exiting the presidential race. He made an electability pitch, arguing that Warren “can unify Democrats to beat Donald Trump.”
Buttigieg has also assembled a robust statewide organization that puts him in a strong position for someone who was virtually unknown nationally a year ago. He consistently draws larger crowds than his rivals who have been in politics for decades.
Since September, the 37-year-old Buttigieg — touting a message of generational change, civility and Midwestern pragmatism — has been drawing a significant share of first-time caucusgoers into his ranks, including about a third of the 50 caucus leaders who turned out in Ottumwa for caucus training Thursday evening.
Despite the hopeful tone and intellectual depth, Buttigieg has struggled with some in his own generation looking for more overhaul in Washington than the moderate from Indiana espouses.
“I really like his temperament and his style,” said Parthi Kandavel, a Des Moines middle school teacher who recently traveled to Burlington with his wife, Anu, to see Buttigieg. “My concern is his commitment to addressing income inequality.”
And though Iowa’s population is 90 percent white, Buttigieg’s struggle to attract support from minority voters has crept into his Iowa campaign. During a rally Sunday in Des Moines, Black Lives Matter supporters interrupted Buttigieg, shouting and chanting, before being escorted out by police.
In another warning sign for Buttigieg, he dropped 9 percentage points from November in the Register/CNN Iowa poll.
Still, the final weeks of the caucus campaign are often marked by unpredictability: Candidate support is known to shift even in the final days before the caucuses, and the polling leader three weeks out is by no means assured a win.
That leaves room for an unexpected candidate to break ahead. Sen. Cory Booker is continuing to campaign feverishly in Iowa, and while his campaign leadership is seen as one of the strongest on the ground, he remains far behind his opponents in polling and staffing numbers.
It’s Sen. Amy Klobuchar who has Iowa political operatives taking notice. In recent weeks, she’s attracted growing crowds and a fundraising surge that helped her invest in her operation in Iowa. She now has more than 100 staffers on the ground, and 19 field offices across the state — fewer than most of the top-tier candidates, but a healthy infusion at a key time.
But it remains to be seen whether Klobuchar’s late investment can compete with the seasoned staffers of campaigns like Warren’s and even Booker’s, which have been organizing supporters for months in Iowa.
“Now, their challenge is how you take these people that are now seriously kicking Klobuchar’s tires and turn them into precinct captains and have them help recruit other people for you,” said veteran Iowa Democratic Party operative Jeff Link, who is unaffiliated with any campaign. “I think she can.”