usatoday--2020-02-03--'They ... don't want to face me,' Biden says after Ernst suggests he could be impeached

After Sen. Joni Ernst , R-Iowa , suggested Sunday that Republicans could move to impeach former Vice President Joe Biden over Ukraine if he were elected president , Biden said her comments show President Donald Trump and his allies are scared of him .
Ernst , an Iowa Republican , gave an interview to Bloomberg News on Sunday where she suggested House Democrats ' impeachment of Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress has lowered the bar for impeaching a president .
`` I think this door of impeachable whatever has been opened , '' Ernst told Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden should be very careful what he ’ s asking for because , you know , we can have a situation where if it should ever be President Biden , that immediately , people , right the day after he would be elected would be saying , ‘ Well , we ’ re going to impeach him . '
'' Brook Ramlet , a senior adviser to Ernst , said Sunday that Ernst was making a hypothetical point and that she never said she thinks Biden should be impeached .
`` She said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lowered the standards of impeachment , if Biden wins , there could be people calling for it , '' Ramlet said in an email .
In an interview Sunday with the Des Moines Register , Biden said Ernst 's comments and Trump 's decision to ask Ukraine to investigate his actions overseeing foreign policy in that country show that the president is afraid of running against him .
`` She just reinforces everything that was the reason why the president was being impeached : They very much don ’ t want to face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Register .
`` I ’ ve never seen a sitting president and his allies this frightened about who may be the nominee . ''
Biden said he has never met Ernst and only knows her by her reputation and what she has said about him , but the two have been sparring all week .
Biden received some of his loudest applause this week when he told Iowans that they can `` ruin Joni Ernst 's night '' by caucusing for him Monday , after she questioned whether Trump 's impeachment trial in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caucuses because Trump 's lawyers sought , without evidence , to paint him as corrupt .
`` Iowa caucuses are this next Monday evening , and I ’ m really interested to see how this discussion today informs and influences the Iowa caucus voters , '' Ernst said last week .
`` Those Democratic caucusgoers , will they be supporting Vice President Biden at this point ? ''
Biden told the Register on Sunday he does n't believe that comments like Ernst 's will stop him from carrying out his promise to bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he 's elected .
`` There is an appetite , but not the Joni Ernsts of the world , '' he said .
`` There ’ s some that are just beyond the pale , but I think there are at least a dozen Republicans who know we have to do something about health care , at least a dozen of them know we have to do something about keeping prescription drug prices down , know we have to do something about increasing access to education and so on . ''
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the campaign trail that if he won the nomination he could help elect Democrats to the Senate and other down-ballot races in places such as Iowa , North Carolina , Georgia , Arizona and Pennsylvania .
`` With a little bit of luck , one of the reasons why I think that in addition to being able to defeat President Trump — and he ’ s demonstrated that he thinks so too — is that I think I can help candidates running in Iowa for the Senate , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics for the Des Moines Register .
He can be reached by email at sgrubermil @ registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169 .
Follow him on Twitter at @ sgrubermiller .

Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register

'They ... don't want to face me,' Biden says after Ernst suggests he could be impeached
Show Caption Hide Caption Joe Biden responds to impeachment comments made by Joni Ernst Former Vice President Joe Biden responds to comments Joni Ernst made about impeaching Biden if he became president. Kelsey Kremer, kkremer@dmreg.com
After Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, suggested Sunday that Republicans could move to impeach former Vice President Joe Biden over Ukraine if he were elected president, Biden said her comments show President Donald Trump and his allies are scared of him.
Ernst, an Iowa Republican, gave an interview to Bloomberg News on Sunday where she suggested House Democrats' impeachment of Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress has lowered the bar for impeaching a president.
"I think this door of impeachable whatever has been opened," Ernst told Bloomberg News in the interview. "Joe Biden should be very careful what he’s asking for because, you know, we can have a situation where if it should ever be President Biden, that immediately, people, right the day after he would be elected would be saying, ‘Well, we’re going to impeach him.'"
Brook Ramlet, a senior adviser to Ernst, said Sunday that Ernst was making a hypothetical point and that she never said she thinks Biden should be impeached.
"She said that because of how House Democrats have lowered the standards of impeachment, if Biden wins, there could be people calling for it," Ramlet said in an email.
In an interview Sunday with the Des Moines Register, Biden said Ernst's comments and Trump's decision to ask Ukraine to investigate his actions overseeing foreign policy in that country show that the president is afraid of running against him.
Presidential impeachment: Clinton, Johnson, Nixon test U.S. democracy Presidents have been impeached, but none have been removed from office due to impeachment. Confusing? Here's how. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
"She just reinforces everything that was the reason why the president was being impeached: They very much don’t want to face me obviously," Biden told the Register. "I’ve never seen a sitting president and his allies this frightened about who may be the nominee."
Biden said he has never met Ernst and only knows her by her reputation and what she has said about him, but the two have been sparring all week.
Biden received some of his loudest applause this week when he told Iowans that they can "ruin Joni Ernst's night" by caucusing for him Monday, after she questioned whether Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate might damage Biden in the caucuses because Trump's lawyers sought, without evidence, to paint him as corrupt.
"Iowa caucuses are this next Monday evening, and I’m really interested to see how this discussion today informs and influences the Iowa caucus voters," Ernst said last week. "Those Democratic caucusgoers, will they be supporting Vice President Biden at this point?"
Biden told the Register on Sunday he doesn't believe that comments like Ernst's will stop him from carrying out his promise to bring the country together and work with Republicans if he's elected.
"There is an appetite, but not the Joni Ernsts of the world," he said. "There’s some that are just beyond the pale, but I think there are at least a dozen Republicans who know we have to do something about health care, at least a dozen of them know we have to do something about keeping prescription drug prices down, know we have to do something about increasing access to education and so on."
He repeated the argument that he has made on the campaign trail that if he won the nomination he could help elect Democrats to the Senate and other down-ballot races in places such as Iowa, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania.
"With a little bit of luck, one of the reasons why I think that in addition to being able to defeat President Trump — and he’s demonstrated that he thinks so too — is that I think I can help candidates running in Iowa for the Senate," he said.
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.


usatoday--2020-02-02--10 questions that will be answered by the Iowa caucuses

DES MOINES , Iowa – For more than a year , the 2020 Democratic presidential campaign has played out like a long , complicated novel with characters developing , conflicts arising and questions building about how the climax will finally play out .
Although Iowa ’ s caucuses are likely to raise as many questions as they answer , there will finally be a sense of resolution as the last chapter of the 2020 Iowa caucus cycle comes to a close Monday night .
Here 's a look at what we 'll learn once the results are tallied .
1.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ The 2020 caucus campaign has been defined by the historically large and diverse field of candidates seeking the Democratic presidential nomination – a field that , at its peak , boasted 24 candidates .
Iowans have been inundated with their overtures .
According to data from the Des Moines Register , campaigns have held roughly 2,500 campaign events since the start of the 2020 cycle when they first began visiting the state .
Four of those candidates have consistently led in polling : former Vice President Joe Biden ; former South Bend , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont ; and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts .
Still , the polling numbers have been volatile .
Each of those candidates has , at one point , led the Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll .
And with only days to go , no clear frontrunner has emerged .
Local Democratic activists and strategists say they feel the race could still go any way .
`` For a long time I felt like I had a sense ( of who would win ) , '' said Nora Walsh-DeVries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' political director and is now unaligned .
`` But just seeing the fluctuation in polling and just anecdotally having been a staffer , knowing other staffers , knowing the different organizations the various campaigns have – I think it 's really , really hard to tell still . ''
2 .
What will 'winning ' the Iowa caucuses look like ?
New rules introduced for the first time this year will complicate the idea of `` winning . ''
For decades , the winner of Iowa ’ s caucuses has been decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equivalents , which operates kind of like the Electoral College .
But unlike the November presidential vote , Iowa ’ s tally of popular support was never released .
More : Could multiple candidates 'win ' the Democratic caucuses ?
New rules make it possible .
On Monday , the Iowa Democratic Party will publish the raw vote totals from each precinct showing how many people supported each candidate on the first and final alignments .
The Associated Press will declare the winner based on the delegate equivalents .
But the new metrics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results in a multitude of new ways , potentially hijacking the media narrative and claiming momentum out of Iowa .
Iowa 's caucuses and the complicated system of delegates were set up , in part , to encourage candidates to campaign statewide .
The number of available delegates is capped in each precinct , forcing campaigns to compete beyond the state 's most populous counties .
Candidates have paid outsized attention to Polk County , which includes Des Moines , and Linn County , which includes Cedar Rapids , because they have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do well there to win the delegate math , strategists say .
But they also ca n't lose too badly in rural areas .
`` At the end of the day , candidates can try to appeal to a vast cohort of voters or different demographics , but it really is a numbers game , '' Walsh-DeVries said .
More : What to watch for in three crucial counties during the Iowa caucuses Iowa Democrats have stressed the need to shore up their support in more rural corners of the state after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor 's race .
A candidate who does n't win overall but who overperforms in rural Iowa could have a compelling story to tell , she said .
The candidates have worked to tell that story .
While they have had more events in Iowa 's capital city than elsewhere , they 've also branched out across the state to woo voters .
4 .
How many 'tickets ' will there be out of Iowa ?
Iowa doesn ’ t always crown winners , but it always narrows the field of contenders .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the rule has almost always proven true that there are “ three tickets ” out of Iowa .
With the exception of John McCain in 2008 , no candidate who finished worse than third in a competitive caucus has ever gone on to win their party ’ s nomination .
But with a historically large field of Democratic contenders , will that rule still hold true ?
The field of Democratic presidential candidates has already winnowed dramatically since it began more than a year ago from two dozen candidates to 11 – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iowa ( U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii ) and two more who never focused on Iowa to begin with ( former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Massachusetts Gov .
Deval Patrick ) .
That leaves seven candidates who have staked their hopes on a successful showing : Biden , Buttigieg , U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota , Sanders , Tom Steyer , Warren and Andrew Yang .
If there are five tickets out of the state , it potentially leaves Steyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue funding a campaign operation ahead of the New Hampshire primary .
Steyer has his own personal wealth to fall back on , and Yang has converted a devoted following into a sizeable fundraising operation .
Some of those candidates ’ fates will be determined after Iowa .
Buttigieg , who has struggled more than his competitors to gain the support of black voters , is among them .
He will be tested more fully in South Carolina , where there is a larger base of black voters , Democratic activist Sue Dvorsky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not about Iowa .
It ’ s not about New Hampshire , ” she said .
“ I don ’ t think there ’ s going to be a lot of surprise for Pete ( on caucus ) night .
I think it ’ s a little bit of ‘ do no harm.
’ He ’ s going to do well .
If he doesn ’ t , that will be a story .
But I don ’ t see that happening.
” And Bloomberg , who has funneled hundreds of millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be waiting to jump into the race on Super Tuesday .
5 .
Is the ground game still king ?
Iowa ’ s caucus system has long favored well-organized campaigns that prioritize grass-roots activism .
Since the earliest days of the 2020 campaign , Warren has been the consensus choice among Iowa activists for “ best organized.
” But her poll numbers have slipped from their high point in September when she led the field .
Some Democrats say they expect Warren to outperform her poll numbers on caucus night because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to find out the benefits and the advantage and all the things about really terrific field organizing , ” said Dvorsky .
“ Is it what we think it is here in Iowa ?
” Dvorsky previously endorsed Harris , who dropped out of the race in November .
Dvorsky recently backed Warren , citing the strength of her ground game .
Though Warren built up a sizable field team well ahead of her competitors , others filled out their staff in the fall and opened up offices across the state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have competitive operations .
Review the campaign:14 moments that shaped the 2020 Iowa caucuses Sanders ’ staffers and volunteers have been less visible at party functions and events than other campaigns , and Iowa activists say that under-the-radar presence has made it hard to assess the strength of his ground game .
But the fervency of his supporters will certainly play to his advantage .
“ Bernie Sanders has always been something of an enigma , ” Dvorsky said .
“ We have always wondered … what is Bernie Sanders ’ actual base @ @ @ @ @ @ @ separate it from the tens of thousands who apparently voted for him in 2016 because he wasn ’ t ( Hillary Clinton ) ?
” With four candidates seemingly locked in a tight race , Iowa Democrats are looking to Klobuchar as the possible dark horse candidate to emerge from caucus night .
If she breaks into the top four or gives a strong enough fifth-place finish , it could be enough to vault her into New Hampshire .
`` I think she ’ ll do well in the 4th District .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scholten , a Sioux City Democrat who is running for Congress in Iowa ’ s conservative 4th congressional district .
`` I think that ’ s a huge thing . ''
Klobuchar gave a string of well-received debate performances , is one of only two candidates to pull off a 99-county tour of the state and she 's had a small but steady increase in her polling numbers here .
In past years , candidates like Klobuchar might register no support at the end of the night if they failed to hit the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's new reporting rules , which will show candidates ' raw support on the first and second alignments , could come to her benefit .
That rule also stands to benefit entrepreneur Andrew Yang and businessman Tom Steyer , who register some support in polling but so far not enough to break through the viability mark .
More : Presidential campaigns may seek alliances for caucus night , but no one is making deals 7 .
What does 'electability ' look like ?
Biden has stressed his own electability from the earliest days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best suited to take on Republican President Donald Trump in a general election because he can win over independents and disaffected Republicans .
In Iowa , he 's earned endorsements from nearly every major elected leader , including U.S. Reps. Abby Finkenauer and Cindy Axne , who are up for reelection in 2020 ; Tom Miller , who is the nation 's longest-serving attorney general ; and past governors Tom Vilsack and Chet Culver .
But although Biden entered the race a looming figure , he 's consistently slipped in the Register 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are making the electability argument were to surpass him by a meaningful margin on caucus night , it could change the way other primary voters think about the concept of electability .
8 .
Will the satellite caucuses be successful ?
Democrats had worked for months to enact virtual caucuses that would allow Iowans to participate over the phone or online .
It was part of a mandate by the Democratic National Committee that caucus states find a way to allow people to participate without being physically present .
But the DNC derailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cybersecurity .
Instead , Iowa Democrats offered up “ satellite ” caucuses at dozens of locations outside of the typical caucus precinct structure .
Those sites stretch across Iowa , the country and even , with a few international locations , the world .
A handful also begin earlier or later than the typical 7 p.m. caucus start in Iowa .
Although they will allow Democrats to participate in the caucuses in new ways , they do not meet the DNC ’ s original mandate .
Meanwhile , pressure continues to mount for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its caucus participation in the face of criticism over inclusion and diversity .
If the satellite caucuses don ’ t go far enough to expand participation , it could strengthen the case to end caucuses and move states toward primaries .
`` When I think of accessibility , I think of trying to cater to underrepresented communities , '' said Walsh-DeVries .
`` An interesting thing that might play out after the caucus is thinking critically about did the satellite caucuses make this caucus more accessible to those groups of people , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to people who spend their winters outside of Iowa .
There might be some overlap , but probably not much . ''
More : Iowa caucuses : How to find your caucus site , register and be informed about the candidate you want to support 9 .
Will the new rules streamline caucus night or create new hiccups ?
In addition to the new rules about releasing results , Iowa has implemented changes to streamline the caucus night process .
The party encouraged advance check-in , rented larger spaces to accommodate but made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats could realign multiple times throughout the night .
On Monday , they ’ ll cast their first preference – and if that group meets the 15 % viability threshold , they ’ ll be locked into that preference group , unable to realign .
There will be just one realignment period in which those who support nonviable candidates can either move to a viable group or try to recruit people into their group to become viable .
But it could also cause hiccups .
Typically , Iowans can choose to align as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But now , if that group is viable , they ’ ll be locked into that choice .
Precinct leaders and activists across the state say they ’ re trying to prevent people from accidentally becoming locked in as “ uncommitted.
” 10 .
Will Iowa keep its caucuses and stay first ?
It 's not a question that will be answered definitively on caucus night .
But what happens on Monday will set the stage for the inevitable conversation that comes next : Should Iowans continue to caucus , and should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have fretted for months that a messy or chaotic night could threaten the future of Iowa 's first-in-the-nation caucuses .
And there are myriad new ways things could spiral out of control this year .
More : Should the Iowa caucuses be first ?
Well … it 's complicated .
'We are being tested , ' one Latino leader says .
The party is using a new cell phone app that will allow local precincts to report their results .
It raises typical technological questions – will the app work as designed ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ around hacking .
The Democratic National Committee is deploying security staff to work with the state party to assist with any caucus problems , should they arise .
The introduction of new reporting metrics also could give rise to confusion around the winner and how the media report the results .
Others worry that if Iowa chooses a candidate who is unable to gain support in more diverse states it will reflect poorly on the state , which is 90 % white .
`` I think that 's something that has been talked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Walsh-DeVries .
`` I think that whatever happens – whoever our nominee is , whoever wins Iowa , wins the delegates , wins the raw vote – because of how much of a conversation it ’ s become , there will be more scrutiny and more attention paid to all of these components . ''
Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register .
Reach her at bpfann @ dmreg.com or 515-284-8244 .
Follow her on Twitter at @ brianneDMR .

Brianne Pfannenstiel, Des Moines Register

10 questions that will be answered by the Iowa caucuses
Show Caption Hide Caption Difference between caucus and primary, explained The 2020 election is nearing and with that, comes the caucuses and primary elections. But what’s the difference? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
DES MOINES, Iowa – For more than a year, the 2020 Democratic presidential campaign has played out like a long, complicated novel with characters developing, conflicts arising and questions building about how the climax will finally play out.
Although Iowa’s caucuses are likely to raise as many questions as they answer, there will finally be a sense of resolution as the last chapter of the 2020 Iowa caucus cycle comes to a close Monday night.
Here's a look at what we'll learn once the results are tallied.
1. Who will win the Iowa caucuses?
The 2020 caucus campaign has been defined by the historically large and diverse field of candidates seeking the Democratic presidential nomination – a field that, at its peak, boasted 24 candidates.
Iowans have been inundated with their overtures. According to data from the Des Moines Register, campaigns have held roughly 2,500 campaign events since the start of the 2020 cycle when they first began visiting the state.
Four of those candidates have consistently led in polling: former Vice President Joe Biden; former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg; U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont; and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
Still, the polling numbers have been volatile. Each of those candidates has, at one point, led the Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll. And with only days to go, no clear frontrunner has emerged. Local Democratic activists and strategists say they feel the race could still go any way.
"For a long time I felt like I had a sense (of who would win)," said Nora Walsh-DeVries, who was U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris' political director and is now unaligned. "But just seeing the fluctuation in polling and just anecdotally having been a staffer, knowing other staffers, knowing the different organizations the various campaigns have – I think it's really, really hard to tell still."
2. What will 'winning' the Iowa caucuses look like?
New rules introduced for the first time this year will complicate the idea of "winning."
For decades, the winner of Iowa’s caucuses has been decided by a complicated system of state delegate equivalents, which operates kind of like the Electoral College. But unlike the November presidential vote, Iowa’s tally of popular support was never released.
More: Could multiple candidates 'win' the Democratic caucuses? New rules make it possible.
On Monday, the Iowa Democratic Party will publish the raw vote totals from each precinct showing how many people supported each candidate on the first and final alignments.
The Associated Press will declare the winner based on the delegate equivalents. But the new metrics will allow the campaigns to spin the results in a multitude of new ways, potentially hijacking the media narrative and claiming momentum out of Iowa.
Iowa caucus results: Follow live Iowa caucus results on Monday
3. Where will candidates win?
Iowa's caucuses and the complicated system of delegates were set up, in part, to encourage candidates to campaign statewide. The number of available delegates is capped in each precinct, forcing campaigns to compete beyond the state's most populous counties.
Candidates have paid outsized attention to Polk County, which includes Des Moines, and Linn County, which includes Cedar Rapids, because they have the most available delegates. And candidates need to do well there to win the delegate math, strategists say. But they also can't lose too badly in rural areas.
"At the end of the day, candidates can try to appeal to a vast cohort of voters or different demographics, but it really is a numbers game," Walsh-DeVries said.
More: What to watch for in three crucial counties during the Iowa caucuses
Iowa Democrats have stressed the need to shore up their support in more rural corners of the state after losses in 2016 and in the 2018 governor's race. A candidate who doesn't win overall but who overperforms in rural Iowa could have a compelling story to tell, she said.
The candidates have worked to tell that story. While they have had more events in Iowa's capital city than elsewhere, they've also branched out across the state to woo voters.
4. How many 'tickets' will there be out of Iowa?
Iowa doesn’t always crown winners, but it always narrows the field of contenders. No matter how many candidates come in, the rule has almost always proven true that there are “three tickets” out of Iowa. With the exception of John McCain in 2008, no candidate who finished worse than third in a competitive caucus has ever gone on to win their party’s nomination.
But with a historically large field of Democratic contenders, will that rule still hold true?
The field of Democratic presidential candidates has already winnowed dramatically since it began more than a year ago from two dozen candidates to 11 – two of whom have abandoned campaigning in Iowa (U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii) and two more who never focused on Iowa to begin with (former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick).
That leaves seven candidates who have staked their hopes on a successful showing: Biden, Buttigieg, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Sanders, Tom Steyer, Warren and Andrew Yang.
If there are five tickets out of the state, it potentially leaves Steyer and Yang to assess whether they can continue funding a campaign operation ahead of the New Hampshire primary. Steyer has his own personal wealth to fall back on, and Yang has converted a devoted following into a sizeable fundraising operation.
Some of those candidates’ fates will be determined after Iowa. Buttigieg, who has struggled more than his competitors to gain the support of black voters, is among them. He will be tested more fully in South Carolina, where there is a larger base of black voters, Democratic activist Sue Dvorsky said.
“Pete’s question is not about Iowa. It’s not about New Hampshire,” she said. “I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of surprise for Pete (on caucus) night. I think it’s a little bit of ‘do no harm.’ He’s going to do well. If he doesn’t, that will be a story. But I don’t see that happening.”
And Bloomberg, who has funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into the race already, will be waiting to jump into the race on Super Tuesday.
5. Is the ground game still king?
Iowa’s caucus system has long favored well-organized campaigns that prioritize grass-roots activism. Since the earliest days of the 2020 campaign, Warren has been the consensus choice among Iowa activists for “best organized.”
But her poll numbers have slipped from their high point in September when she led the field. Some Democrats say they expect Warren to outperform her poll numbers on caucus night because of that organization.
“We’re going to find out the benefits and the advantage and all the things about really terrific field organizing,” said Dvorsky. “Is it what we think it is here in Iowa?”
Dvorsky previously endorsed Harris, who dropped out of the race in November. Dvorsky recently backed Warren, citing the strength of her ground game.
Though Warren built up a sizable field team well ahead of her competitors, others filled out their staff in the fall and opened up offices across the state. Sanders and Buttigieg are expected to also have competitive operations.
Review the campaign: 14 moments that shaped the 2020 Iowa caucuses
Sanders’ staffers and volunteers have been less visible at party functions and events than other campaigns, and Iowa activists say that under-the-radar presence has made it hard to assess the strength of his ground game. But the fervency of his supporters will certainly play to his advantage.
“Bernie Sanders has always been something of an enigma,” Dvorsky said. “We have always wondered … what is Bernie Sanders’ actual base? What is his base when you separate it from the tens of thousands who apparently voted for him in 2016 because he wasn’t (Hillary Clinton)?”
6. Is ‘Klomentum’ real?
With four candidates seemingly locked in a tight race, Iowa Democrats are looking to Klobuchar as the possible dark horse candidate to emerge from caucus night. If she breaks into the top four or gives a strong enough fifth-place finish, it could be enough to vault her into New Hampshire.
"I think she’ll do well in the 4th District. But how well?" said J.D. Scholten, a Sioux City Democrat who is running for Congress in Iowa’s conservative 4th congressional district. "I think that’s a huge thing."
Klobuchar gave a string of well-received debate performances, is one of only two candidates to pull off a 99-county tour of the state and she's had a small but steady increase in her polling numbers here.
In past years, candidates like Klobuchar might register no support at the end of the night if they failed to hit the 15% viability threshold. But Iowa's new reporting rules, which will show candidates' raw support on the first and second alignments, could come to her benefit.
That rule also stands to benefit entrepreneur Andrew Yang and businessman Tom Steyer, who register some support in polling but so far not enough to break through the viability mark.
More: Presidential campaigns may seek alliances for caucus night, but no one is making deals
7. What does 'electability' look like?
Biden has stressed his own electability from the earliest days of the campaign, arguing he is best suited to take on Republican President Donald Trump in a general election because he can win over independents and disaffected Republicans.
In Iowa, he's earned endorsements from nearly every major elected leader, including U.S. Reps. Abby Finkenauer and Cindy Axne, who are up for reelection in 2020; Tom Miller, who is the nation's longest-serving attorney general; and past governors Tom Vilsack and Chet Culver.
But although Biden entered the race a looming figure, he's consistently slipped in the Register's polling. If other candidates who also are making the electability argument were to surpass him by a meaningful margin on caucus night, it could change the way other primary voters think about the concept of electability.
8. Will the satellite caucuses be successful?
Democrats had worked for months to enact virtual caucuses that would allow Iowans to participate over the phone or online. It was part of a mandate by the Democratic National Committee that caucus states find a way to allow people to participate without being physically present. But the DNC derailed those plans because of lingering concerns over cybersecurity.
Instead, Iowa Democrats offered up “satellite” caucuses at dozens of locations outside of the typical caucus precinct structure. Those sites stretch across Iowa, the country and even, with a few international locations, the world. A handful also begin earlier or later than the typical 7 p.m. caucus start in Iowa.
Although they will allow Democrats to participate in the caucuses in new ways, they do not meet the DNC’s original mandate. Meanwhile, pressure continues to mount for Iowa to show it can meaningfully expand its caucus participation in the face of criticism over inclusion and diversity.
If the satellite caucuses don’t go far enough to expand participation, it could strengthen the case to end caucuses and move states toward primaries.
"When I think of accessibility, I think of trying to cater to underrepresented communities," said Walsh-DeVries. "An interesting thing that might play out after the caucus is thinking critically about did the satellite caucuses make this caucus more accessible to those groups of people, or did it potentially make it more accessible to people who spend their winters outside of Iowa. There might be some overlap, but probably not much."
More: Iowa caucuses: How to find your caucus site, register and be informed about the candidate you want to support
9. Will the new rules streamline caucus night or create new hiccups?
In addition to the new rules about releasing results, Iowa has implemented changes to streamline the caucus night process. The party encouraged advance check-in, rented larger spaces to accommodate but made other sweeping changes.
Previously, Iowa Democrats could realign multiple times throughout the night. On Monday, they’ll cast their first preference – and if that group meets the 15% viability threshold, they’ll be locked into that preference group, unable to realign.
There will be just one realignment period in which those who support nonviable candidates can either move to a viable group or try to recruit people into their group to become viable.
But it could also cause hiccups. Typically, Iowans can choose to align as “uncommitted” in the first alignment. But now, if that group is viable, they’ll be locked into that choice. Precinct leaders and activists across the state say they’re trying to prevent people from accidentally becoming locked in as “uncommitted.”
Iowa caucuses: A look back at the history of the Iowa caucuses The Iowa caucuses are not first because they're important; they're important because they're first. former Des Moines Register opinion editor Kathie Obradovich explains. Kelsey Kremer, Des Moines Register
10. Will Iowa keep its caucuses and stay first?
It's not a question that will be answered definitively on caucus night. But what happens on Monday will set the stage for the inevitable conversation that comes next: Should Iowans continue to caucus, and should they do it first?
Iowa Democrats have fretted for months that a messy or chaotic night could threaten the future of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses. And there are myriad new ways things could spiral out of control this year.
More: Should the Iowa caucuses be first? Well … it's complicated. 'We are being tested,' one Latino leader says.
The party is using a new cell phone app that will allow local precincts to report their results. It raises typical technological questions – will the app work as designed? – as well as bigger cybersecurity issues around hacking. The Democratic National Committee is deploying security staff to work with the state party to assist with any caucus problems, should they arise.
The introduction of new reporting metrics also could give rise to confusion around the winner and how the media report the results.
Others worry that if Iowa chooses a candidate who is unable to gain support in more diverse states it will reflect poorly on the state, which is 90% white.
"I think that's something that has been talked about more this cycle than ever before," said Walsh-DeVries. "I think that whatever happens – whoever our nominee is, whoever wins Iowa, wins the delegates, wins the raw vote – because of how much of a conversation it’s become, there will be more scrutiny and more attention paid to all of these components."
Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.


usatoday--2020-02-02--Bernie Sanders draws 3,000 with Vampire Weekend as Caucus Day approaches

CEDAR RAPIDS , Ia .
— In the closing days of the Iowa caucus race , U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders turned his back on the crowd .
Otherwise , he couldn ’ t get a photograph with himself and all 3,000 assembled people in it .
Sanders was surrounded by some of his highest profile surrogates , as a campaign photographer counted down the shot for the crowd in the background , and band Vampire Weekend waited to play for the crowd .
Sanders spoke for about 30 minutes , after people including Dr. Cornel West , U.S. Reps Ilhan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introduced him .
Sanders didn ’ t deviate much from a campaign speech he ’ s delivered dozens of times this caucus cycle — pledging universal health care , the most comprehensive climate change plan , a rejection of President Donald Trump ’ s agenda , and more .
But he pointed to a bank of media in the back to highlight the moment , 48 hours from when Iowans will gather in precincts all over the state for the first-in-the-nation nominating contest .
The bank of TV cameras weren ’ t just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States , Sanders said , but all over the world .
“ The whole world is asking if the people of Iowa are prepared to stand up and fight for justice , ” he said .
“ All over the world , people are watching to see if the people in Iowa are prepared to help create a government and an economy that will work for all of us , and not just the 1 % .
” Sanders continued , “ We are taking on Wall Street , and the insurance companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fossil fuel industry ... ” he said , as the crowd ’ s cheers nearly drowned him out over the concert PA as they erupted into a “ Ber-nie ” chant .
Earlier in the day , his campaign announced it hit its goal of knocking on 500,000 doors in Iowa in the month of January , hoping to fuel an unprecedented turnout on Monday .
As he repeated from the campaign trail on Saturday , his victory here depends on turnout .
Abbi Cobb , 24 , of North Liberty , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been to more than a dozen of Sanders ’ events between his two presidential campaigns .
She almost didn ’ t come to the one Saturday night , feeling like she has seen enough and was already secure in her support of Sanders .
But being around 3,000 fellow supporters — and being “ star struck ” by Omar , and hearing from Linn County Supervisor Stacey Walker — felt like a boost .
“ I ’ m very happy I did come out tonight , ” she said .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excited , but I just feel ( it ) a little more.
” While Vampire Weekend played their set , Sanders supporters waved signs reading Sanders ’ campaign slogan — `` not me , us , '' — behind the band , and people in Bernie 2020 shirts danced in their chairs and the floor .
After they wrapped up their song “ Unbelievers , ” frontman Ezra Koenig noted the irony of one of the lyrics .
“ That song says , ‘ I ’ m not excited , ’ but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ How are you all feeling about Monday ?
” Nick Coltrain is a politics and data reporter for the Register .
Reach him at ncoltrain @ registermedia.com or at 515-284-8361 .

Bernie Sanders draws 3,000 with Vampire Weekend as Caucus Day approaches
CEDAR RAPIDS, Ia. — In the closing days of the Iowa caucus race, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders turned his back on the crowd. Otherwise, he couldn’t get a photograph with himself and all 3,000 assembled people in it.
Sanders was surrounded by some of his highest profile surrogates, as a campaign photographer counted down the shot for the crowd in the background, and band Vampire Weekend waited to play for the crowd.
Sanders spoke for about 30 minutes, after people including Dr. Cornel West, U.S. Reps Ilhan Omar, Pramila Jayapal and Mark Pocan introduced him. Sanders didn’t deviate much from a campaign speech he’s delivered dozens of times this caucus cycle — pledging universal health care, the most comprehensive climate change plan, a rejection of President Donald Trump’s agenda, and more.
But he pointed to a bank of media in the back to highlight the moment, 48 hours from when Iowans will gather in precincts all over the state for the first-in-the-nation nominating contest. The bank of TV cameras weren’t just from Iowa, or just the United States, Sanders said, but all over the world.
“The whole world is asking if the people of Iowa are prepared to stand up and fight for justice,” he said. “All over the world, people are watching to see if the people in Iowa are prepared to help create a government and an economy that will work for all of us, and not just the 1%.”
Sanders continued, “We are taking on Wall Street, and the insurance companies, and the drug companies, and the fossil fuel industry ...” he said, as the crowd’s cheers nearly drowned him out over the concert PA as they erupted into a “Ber-nie” chant.
Earlier in the day, his campaign announced it hit its goal of knocking on 500,000 doors in Iowa in the month of January, hoping to fuel an unprecedented turnout on Monday. As he repeated from the campaign trail on Saturday, his victory here depends on turnout.
Abbi Cobb, 24, of North Liberty, has supported Sanders since 2015 and has been to more than a dozen of Sanders’ events between his two presidential campaigns. She almost didn’t come to the one Saturday night, feeling like she has seen enough and was already secure in her support of Sanders. But being around 3,000 fellow supporters — and being “star struck” by Omar, and hearing from Linn County Supervisor Stacey Walker — felt like a boost.
“I’m very happy I did come out tonight,” she said. “It’s not that I wasn’t excited, but I just feel (it) a little more.”
While Vampire Weekend played their set, Sanders supporters waved signs reading Sanders’ campaign slogan — "not me, us," — behind the band, and people in Bernie 2020 shirts danced in their chairs and the floor.
After they wrapped up their song “Unbelievers,” frontman Ezra Koenig noted the irony of one of the lyrics.
“That song says, ‘I’m not excited,’ but I’m pretty excited,” he said. “How are you all feeling about Monday?”
And the audience roared.
Nick Coltrain is a politics and data reporter for the Register. Reach him at ncoltrain@registermedia.com or at 515-284-8361.


usatoday--2020-02-02--Voters who 'strongly' approve of Trump at new high as impeachment nears end, poll finds

Though a majority of voters say President Donald Trump abused his power and obstructed Congress , they oppose removing him from office for those acts by a narrow margin , according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll .
And the impeachment process does not appear to have greatly swayed voters ' opinions of the president .
Overall , 46 % said they approved of the job Trump was doing and 51 % disapproved .
Those numbers were consistent with previous NBC News/Wall Street Journal polls .
`` We ’ ve been through an impeachment inquiry in the House , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America ’ s attitudes about Donald Trump have hardly budged , '' said Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt , who conducted the poll along with Republican Bill McInturff , according to NBC News .
But the impeachment process may have helped intensify Trump 's level of support .
Thirty-six percent said they `` strongly '' approved of his performance , the highest number in the poll since he took office .
And 33 % said they had `` very positive '' feelings about Trump , which was also a new high .
McInturff said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' in three years .
`` Even as support for impeachment is steady/increasing , Trump 's approval rating is up to some of its highest levels of his presidency , '' said Nate Silver , the editor-in-chief of polling site FiveThirtyEight .
The poll was conducted from Jan. 26-29 with 1,000 registered voters .
The margin of error was plus or minus 3.1 percentage points .
Trump was impeached on articles of impeachment for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress over allegations he leveraged military aid to pressure Ukraine into opening investigations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including one involving former Vice President Joe Biden .
The Senate trial is scheduled to wrap up this week and is expected to acquit Trump in a vote on Wednesday .
Fifty-two percent of registered voters agreed with the statement that Trump , `` abused his power as president by asking a foreign government to investigate a political opponent to influence the upcoming presidential election to his advantage . ''
Forty-one percent said they did not believe that to be the case .
When asked if they thought Trump obstructed Congress by not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % said they believed he had and 37 % said he had not .
But 48 % said the Senate should not vote to remove Trump from office , while 46 % said it should .
At the end of October , while the impeachment inquiry was underway , 49 % said they favored removing Trump from office while 46 % were opposed .
Several Republican senators have expressed sentiments similar to the voters .
They say while Trump may have acted inappropriately , his acts did not rise to the level of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have done it ' : GOP senator who scolded Trump on Ukraine explains why he backs acquittal Sen. Lamar Alexander , R-Tenn. , said Sunday on NBC News ' `` Meet the Press '' that he believed Trump asked Ukraine to investigate the Bidens and delayed military aid `` to encourage that investigation , '' but he plans to vote to acquit the president .
`` I think it was wrong , '' Alexander said of Trump 's alleged acts , adding he thought Trump should have gone to the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden .
But he said , `` I do n't think it 's the kind of inappropriate action that the framers would expect the Senate to substitute its judgment for the people in picking a president . ''
Sen. Joni Ernst , R-Iowa , said on CNN 's `` State of the Union '' that Trump had legitimate concerns about corruption but `` did it maybe in the wrong manner '' and `` should have gone to the DOJ . ''
But she says she will vote to acquit because , `` whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or not , '' it did not warrant removing him from office .
Democrats have denounced the trial as unfair because the Republican-controlled Senate voted against issuing subpoenas for additional witnesses and documents .
Thirty-nine percent of voters said the Senate already has enough testimony and evidence to make its decision , while 37 % said it needs more information .
Another 22 % said they did not know enough to give an opinion .
In the poll , Trump trailed the leading Democratic presidential candidates in hypothetical matchups , but he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them from an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll taken in July .
For example , Biden beat Trump 50 % -44 % in the recent poll , but in July , Biden was up 51 % -42 % .
In the race for the Democratic nomination , the poll found Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont ahead of Biden by one percentage point , 27 % -26 % , followed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts at 15 % , former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at 9 % , former South Bend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 % , Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota at 5 % and entrepreneur Andrew Yang at 4 % .
The other candidates were at 2 % or less support .
Voters in Iowa are gearing up to cast the first ballots in the contest in caucuses on Monday .
The 2020 candidates : Who is running for president ?
An interactive guide More : How do the Iowa caucuses work and how they are different than a primary ?

Voters who 'strongly' approve of Trump at new high as impeachment nears end, poll finds
Show Caption Hide Caption Impeachment trial expected to end after State of the Union The Senate is expected to begin closing arguments in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial on Monday. USA TODAY, Associated Press
Though a majority of voters say President Donald Trump abused his power and obstructed Congress, they oppose removing him from office for those acts by a narrow margin, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.
And the impeachment process does not appear to have greatly swayed voters' opinions of the president. Overall, 46% said they approved of the job Trump was doing and 51% disapproved. Those numbers were consistent with previous NBC News/Wall Street Journal polls.
"We’ve been through an impeachment inquiry in the House, a trial in the Senate, and America’s attitudes about Donald Trump have hardly budged," said Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt, who conducted the poll along with Republican Bill McInturff, according to NBC News.
But the impeachment process may have helped intensify Trump's level of support. Thirty-six percent said they "strongly" approved of his performance, the highest number in the poll since he took office. And 33% said they had "very positive" feelings about Trump, which was also a new high.
McInturff said the poll is Trump's "strongest" in three years.
"Even as support for impeachment is steady/increasing, Trump's approval rating is up to some of its highest levels of his presidency," said Nate Silver, the editor-in-chief of polling site FiveThirtyEight.
The poll was conducted from Jan. 26-29 with 1,000 registered voters. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
Impeachment trial: Final vote will occur Wednesday. Closing arguments Monday
Trump's approval rating and support for impeachment have converged. But that's a mixed bag for Democrats. Even as support for impeachment is steady/increasing, Trump's approval rating is up to some of its highest levels of his presidency. https://t.co/Vfmzd6B2ps pic.twitter.com/PIQu6sAa69 — Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) February 2, 2020
Trump was impeached on articles of impeachment for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress over allegations he leveraged military aid to pressure Ukraine into opening investigations that stood to benefit him politically, including one involving former Vice President Joe Biden. The Senate trial is scheduled to wrap up this week and is expected to acquit Trump in a vote on Wednesday.
Fifty-two percent of registered voters agreed with the statement that Trump, "abused his power as president by asking a foreign government to investigate a political opponent to influence the upcoming presidential election to his advantage." Forty-one percent said they did not believe that to be the case.
When asked if they thought Trump obstructed Congress by not cooperating with the impeachment inquiry, 53% said they believed he had and 37% said he had not.
But 48% said the Senate should not vote to remove Trump from office, while 46% said it should. At the end of October, while the impeachment inquiry was underway, 49% said they favored removing Trump from office while 46% were opposed.
Several Republican senators have expressed sentiments similar to the voters. They say while Trump may have acted inappropriately, his acts did not rise to the level of an impeachable offense.
‘He shouldn’t have done it': GOP senator who scolded Trump on Ukraine explains why he backs acquittal
How polls work: The science behind gathering voter opinions The news cycle is jampacked with polls. But have you ever wondered how polls actually work and what they mean? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said Sunday on NBC News' "Meet the Press" that he believed Trump asked Ukraine to investigate the Bidens and delayed military aid "to encourage that investigation," but he plans to vote to acquit the president.
"I think it was wrong," Alexander said of Trump's alleged acts, adding he thought Trump should have gone to the Department of Justice if he had concerns about Biden. But he said, "I don't think it's the kind of inappropriate action that the framers would expect the Senate to substitute its judgment for the people in picking a president."
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said on CNN's "State of the Union" that Trump had legitimate concerns about corruption but "did it maybe in the wrong manner" and "should have gone to the DOJ." But she says she will vote to acquit because, "whether you like what the president has done or not," it did not warrant removing him from office.
Democrats have denounced the trial as unfair because the Republican-controlled Senate voted against issuing subpoenas for additional witnesses and documents.
Thirty-nine percent of voters said the Senate already has enough testimony and evidence to make its decision, while 37% said it needs more information. Another 22% said they did not know enough to give an opinion.
In the poll, Trump trailed the leading Democratic presidential candidates in hypothetical matchups, but he had also closed the gap with each of them from an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll taken in July. For example, Biden beat Trump 50%-44% in the recent poll, but in July, Biden was up 51%-42%.
In the race for the Democratic nomination, the poll found Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont ahead of Biden by one percentage point, 27%-26%, followed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts at 15%, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at 9%, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 7%, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota at 5% and entrepreneur Andrew Yang at 4%. The other candidates were at 2% or less support.
Voters in Iowa are gearing up to cast the first ballots in the contest in caucuses on Monday.
The 2020 candidates: Who is running for president? An interactive guide
More: How do the Iowa caucuses work and how they are different than a primary?


usatoday--2020-02-02--Iowa Poll canceled after Buttigieg supporter says candidate's name was omitted during a poll call

DES MOINES , Iowa – A highly anticipated release of the Iowa Poll , one of the most respected political surveys in the nation , was canceled Saturday night ahead of the Iowa caucuses after Pete Buttigieg 's campaign complained that his name had been omitted by a poll interviewer .
The Iowa Poll 's sponsors , The Des Moines Register and CNN , jointly made the decision in consultation with Selzer & Co. , which conducts the poll , after determining they could n't verify that the results were valid .
Democratic presidential candidates were eagerly awaiting the poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lead-up to determine who will challenge President Donald Trump in the fall .
`` The Iowa Poll was founded in 1943 , '' Carol Hunter , executive editor of the Register , said in an interview Saturday .
`` It 's built its reputation over many decades for accuracy , and we feel the utmost responsibility to uphold that reputation . ''
Buttigieg 's campaign complained of irregularities in the polling methodology that left out his name among the panel of candidates when a supporter was surveyed for the poll .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pollster and its media partners .
`` Our campaign received a report from a recipient of the Iowa Poll call , raising concerns that not every candidate was named by the interviewer when asked who they support , '' Buttigieg campaign spokeswoman Lis Smith said in a statement .
`` We shared this with the organizations behind the poll , who conducted an internal investigation and determined not to release it .
We applaud CNN and the Des Moines Register for their integrity . ''
The decision could agitate Buttigieg 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were looking to use the survey as a signal to their supporters .
Chief among them is Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont , who was ahead in the last Iowa Poll released in January .
The cancellation of the poll created immediate speculation among political observers .
`` CNN should immediately begin a one hour special on what the Des Moines Register poll might have said , '' political analyst Jeff Greenfield said sarcastically in a tweet .
Hunter said the decision should not affect Monday 's caucus outcome .
`` The ultimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make their own decisions , '' Hunter said .
`` Our intent in polling is never to sway outcomes .
A poll is simply a snapshot in time of Iowans ' opinions . ''
The poll was conducted by live operators from a call center where respondents are read candidates ’ names from a list to determine which candidate a voter planned to support .
CNN did an internal investigation and found that an operator had enlarged the font on their computer screen , cutting off Buttigieg 's name , which had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ randomly cycles candidates ' names so that they are read in a different order , making it impossible to determine which other candidates ' names might have been left out – or how many times it might have happened .
While the polling partners are aware of only one instance of a candidate 's name being omitted , the decision was made to cancel the poll because the same thing could have occurred with Buttigieg or other candidates .
`` A respondent raised an issue with the way their interview was conducted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the poll , '' CNN said in a statement Saturday .
`` We were unable to ascertain what happened during the respondent 's interview , and can not determine if this was a single isolated incident . ''
• Iowa caucus saga reaches final chapter : 10 questions that will be answered on caucus night • Iowa caucuses results : How to follow the live results from the Democratic and Republican caucuses Monday night • Presidential campaigns may seek alliances for caucus night , but no one is making deals • 1,500 media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A consortium is ready to greet them with work space and more • How to caucus in Glasgow : Plan the politics , then figure out what to serve on a stick

Iowa Poll canceled after Buttigieg supporter says candidate's name was omitted during a poll call
Show Caption Hide Caption Iowa Poll: Explaining why the final poll was canceled Des Moines Register, partners cancel the release of Iowa Poll over respondent concerns. Watch the announcement. Wochit
DES MOINES, Iowa – A highly anticipated release of the Iowa Poll, one of the most respected political surveys in the nation, was canceled Saturday night ahead of the Iowa caucuses after Pete Buttigieg's campaign complained that his name had been omitted by a poll interviewer.
The Iowa Poll's sponsors, The Des Moines Register and CNN, jointly made the decision in consultation with Selzer & Co., which conducts the poll, after determining they couldn't verify that the results were valid.
Democratic presidential candidates were eagerly awaiting the poll results leading into Monday's caucuses in the lead-up to determine who will challenge President Donald Trump in the fall.
"The Iowa Poll was founded in 1943," Carol Hunter, executive editor of the Register, said in an interview Saturday. "It's built its reputation over many decades for accuracy, and we feel the utmost responsibility to uphold that reputation."
Iowa Caucus Results: Follow live Iowa caucus results on Monday night
Iowa Poll: Des Moines Register, partners cancel release of Iowa Poll over respondent concerns
How polls work: The science behind gathering voter opinions The news cycle is jampacked with polls. But have you ever wondered how polls actually work and what they mean? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Buttigieg's campaign complained of irregularities in the polling methodology that left out his name among the panel of candidates when a supporter was surveyed for the poll.
The campaign brought the problem to the attention of the pollster and its media partners.
"Our campaign received a report from a recipient of the Iowa Poll call, raising concerns that not every candidate was named by the interviewer when asked who they support," Buttigieg campaign spokeswoman Lis Smith said in a statement.
"We shared this with the organizations behind the poll, who conducted an internal investigation and determined not to release it. We applaud CNN and the Des Moines Register for their integrity."
Since people are asking:
Our campaign received a report from a recipient of the Iowa Poll call, raising concerns that not every candidate was named by the interviewer when asked who they support (1/2) — Lis Smith (@Lis_Smith) February 2, 2020
The decision could agitate Buttigieg's rivals who are crisscrossing the state and were looking to use the survey as a signal to their supporters.
Chief among them is Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who was ahead in the last Iowa Poll released in January. The cancellation of the poll created immediate speculation among political observers.
"CNN should immediately begin a one hour special on what the Des Moines Register poll might have said," political analyst Jeff Greenfield said sarcastically in a tweet.
CNN should immediately begin a one hour special on what the Des Moines Register poll MiGHT have said. — Jeff Greenfield (@greenfield64) February 2, 2020
Hunter said the decision should not affect Monday's caucus outcome.
"The ultimate poll is always when voters go and make their own decisions," Hunter said. "Our intent in polling is never to sway outcomes. A poll is simply a snapshot in time of Iowans' opinions."
The poll was conducted by live operators from a call center where respondents are read candidates’ names from a list to determine which candidate a voter planned to support.
CNN did an internal investigation and found that an operator had enlarged the font on their computer screen, cutting off Buttigieg's name, which had been at the bottom.
The polling methodology randomly cycles candidates' names so that they are read in a different order, making it impossible to determine which other candidates' names might have been left out – or how many times it might have happened.
While the polling partners are aware of only one instance of a candidate's name being omitted, the decision was made to cancel the poll because the same thing could have occurred with Buttigieg or other candidates.
"A respondent raised an issue with the way their interview was conducted, which could have compromised the results of the poll," CNN said in a statement Saturday. "We were unable to ascertain what happened during the respondent's interview, and cannot determine if this was a single isolated incident."
Follow Phillip M. Bailey on Twitter: @phillipmbailey.
Other Iowa caucuses coverage:


usatoday--2020-02-02--Des Moines Register, partners cancel release of Iowa Poll over respondent concerns

DES MOINES , Iowa – The Des Moines Register , CNN and Selzer & Co. have made the decision to not release the final installment of the CNN/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll as planned this evening .
Nothing is more important to the Register and its polling partners than the integrity of the Iowa Poll .
Today , a respondent raised an issue with the way the survey was administered , which could have compromised the results of the poll .
It appears a candidate ’ s name was omitted in at least one interview in which the respondent was asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this appears to be isolated to one surveyor , we can not confirm that with certainty .
Therefore , the partners made the difficult decision to not to move forward with releasing the Iowa Poll .
The Register has published the Iowa Poll for 76 years , and it is considered the gold standard in political polling .
Selzer & Co. , which conducts the poll , is recognized for its excellence in polling .
It is imperative whenever an Iowa Poll is released that there is confidence that the data accurately reflects @ @ @ @

Des Moines Register, partners cancel release of Iowa Poll over respondent concerns
Show Caption Hide Caption Iowa caucus: Just how much influence does it have on the primary? The Iowa caucus is sure to be competitive this year. But what makes caucuses different from primaries? Just the FAQs
DES MOINES, Iowa – The Des Moines Register, CNN and Selzer & Co. have made the decision to not release the final installment of the CNN/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll as planned this evening.
Nothing is more important to the Register and its polling partners than the integrity of the Iowa Poll. Today, a respondent raised an issue with the way the survey was administered, which could have compromised the results of the poll. It appears a candidate’s name was omitted in at least one interview in which the respondent was asked to name their preferred candidate.
While this appears to be isolated to one surveyor, we cannot confirm that with certainty. Therefore, the partners made the difficult decision to not to move forward with releasing the Iowa Poll.
The Register has published the Iowa Poll for 76 years, and it is considered the gold standard in political polling. Selzer & Co., which conducts the poll, is recognized for its excellence in polling. It is imperative whenever an Iowa Poll is released that there is confidence that the data accurately reflects Iowans’ opinions.
— Carol Hunter


usatoday--2020-02-02--Senators will vote Wednesday to acquit or convict Trump: What we know

A busy week in Washington ended Friday night with a major decision in the Senate impeachment trial against President Donald Trump that takes the nation one major step closer to a conclusion .
Democrats allege Trump pursued a pressure campaign to get Ukraine to open investigations that would benefit him politically .
He was also accused of withholding aid and a White House meeting from the ally nation in exchange for the investigations .
On Dec. 18 , after a two-month inquiry in the Democratic-led House , the House approved two articles of impeachment against Trump – abuse of power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up on where things stand and on what 's ahead .
After several hours of deliberations Friday , the Senate voted to reject introducing additional witnesses and documents in the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump .
Democrats wanted testimony from four officials , including former national security adviser John Bolton and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney , but fell short .
Trump 's defense team argued it was n't the Senate 's job to finish the investigation begun by the House .
The vote against witnesses was 51-49 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shouldn ’ t have done it ’ : GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander who scolded Trump on Ukraine explains why he backs acquittal What happens next ?
The Senate will hold a final vote on whether to acquit or convict and remove Trump from office on Wednesday .
The final vote is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST and will cap a monthslong saga over Trump 's dealings with Ukraine .
It 's expected Trump will be acquitted because a conviction requires 67 votes in the 100-member Senate .
That would mean all Democrats and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote for conviction .
The Senate will hold closing arguments on Monday .
There will be a total of four hours of arguments , equally divided among the parties .
Senators can explain their votes in speeches Monday , Tuesday and Wednesday .
Impeachment trial spills into Iowa : Warren , Sanders , Klobuchar and Bennet will have to juggle Trump impeachment trial and the Iowa caucuses Monday Trump has State of the Union speech Tuesday Trump has consistently and vehemently denied any wrongdoing during the House impeachment inquiry and Senate trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoax '' and accusing the Democrats of trying to divide the nation .
White House officials say he will seek to strike an upbeat tone when he delivers his State of the Union speech Tuesday .
Previewing the address on Friday , Trump administration officials said the working title of the annual address is the `` Great American Comeback '' and the tone will be one of `` relentless optimism . ''
In general , Trump will focus on five general areas : The economy and trade , working families , health care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specific part of the speech will deal with the `` school choice '' issue , aides said .
Will he mention impeachment ?
Aides would n't say , adding that it depends in part on whether the trial is over by speech time on Tuesday night .
Alan Dershowitz : Dershowitz argues president ca n't be impeached for an act he thinks will help his reelection

Bart Jansen, Christal Hayes and David Jackson, USA TODAY

Senators will vote Wednesday to acquit or convict Trump: What we know
Show Caption Hide Caption Impeachment trial expected to end after State of the Union The Senate is expected to begin closing arguments in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial on Monday. USA TODAY, Associated Press
A busy week in Washington ended Friday night with a major decision in the Senate impeachment trial against President Donald Trump that takes the nation one major step closer to a conclusion.
Democrats allege Trump pursued a pressure campaign to get Ukraine to open investigations that would benefit him politically. He was also accused of withholding aid and a White House meeting from the ally nation in exchange for the investigations.
On Dec. 18, after a two-month inquiry in the Democratic-led House, the House approved two articles of impeachment against Trump – abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
Get caught up on where things stand and on what's ahead.
What happened Friday night?
Presidential impeachment: Clinton, Johnson, Nixon test U.S. democracy Presidents have been impeached, but none have been removed from office due to impeachment. Confusing? Here's how. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
After several hours of deliberations Friday, the Senate voted to reject introducing additional witnesses and documents in the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump.
Democrats wanted testimony from four officials, including former national security adviser John Bolton and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, but fell short.
Trump's defense team argued it wasn't the Senate's job to finish the investigation begun by the House.
The vote against witnesses was 51-49, largely along party lines.
‘He shouldn’t have done it’: GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander who scolded Trump on Ukraine explains why he backs acquittal
What happens next?
The Senate will hold a final vote on whether to acquit or convict and remove Trump from office on Wednesday.
The final vote is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST and will cap a months-long saga over Trump's dealings with Ukraine.
It's expected Trump will be acquitted because a conviction requires 67 votes in the 100-member Senate. That would mean all Democrats and at least 20 Republican senators would need to vote for conviction.
The Senate will hold closing arguments on Monday. There will be a total of four hours of arguments, equally divided among the parties. Senators can explain their votes in speeches Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Impeachment trial spills into Iowa: Warren, Sanders, Klobuchar and Bennet will have to juggle Trump impeachment trial and the Iowa caucuses Monday
Trump has State of the Union speech Tuesday
Trump has consistently and vehemently denied any wrongdoing during the House impeachment inquiry and Senate trial, calling the whole thing a "hoax" and accusing the Democrats of trying to divide the nation.
White House officials say he will seek to strike an upbeat tone when he delivers his State of the Union speech Tuesday.
Presiding officer: Chief Justice John Roberts emerges as potential wild card in Trump's Senate impeachment trial
Previewing the address on Friday, Trump administration officials said the working title of the annual address is the "Great American Comeback" and the tone will be one of "relentless optimism."
In general, Trump will focus on five general areas: The economy and trade, working families, health care, immigration and national security. One specific part of the speech will deal with the "school choice" issue, aides said.
Will he mention impeachment? Aides wouldn't say, adding that it depends in part on whether the trial is over by speech time on Tuesday night.
Alan Dershowitz: Dershowitz argues president can't be impeached for an act he thinks will help his reelection


usatoday--2020-02-01--Rep. Rashida Tlaib boos Hillary Clinton at a Bernie Sanders event in Iowa over 'nobody likes him' co

Democratic Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib hit back at former 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton over comments she reportedly made in a forthcoming documentary , when she said `` nobody likes '' Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders .
Speaking as a Sanders presidential campaign surrogate during a Friday panel discussion in Iowa , Tlaib booed the secretary of state as the audience erupted .
Event moderator Dionna Langford tried to temper the reaction of the crowd when she mentioned Clinton 's comments , saying `` We 're not gon na boo , we 're not gon na boo .
We 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no .
I 'll boo .
Boo , '' Tlaib chimed in .
`` You all know , I ca n't be quiet .
No , we 're gon na boo .
That 's alright .
The haters will shut up on Monday when we win . ''
‘ He shouldn ’ t have done it.
’ : GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander who scolded Trump on Ukraine explains why he backs acquittal Tlaib issued a statement Saturday morning , acknowledging she let her frustration `` get the best '' of her .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the movement that our campaign of # NotMeUs has created .
This makes me protective over it and frustrated by attempts to dismiss the strength and diversity of our movement , '' Tlaib said .
`` However , I know what is at stake if we do n't unify over one candidate to beat Trump and I intend to do everything possible to ensure that Trump does not win in 2020 . ''
She continued , saying , `` I will continue to strive to come from a place of love and not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are against what we are building in this country . ''
In the documentary , a four-part series on Hulu titled `` Hillary , '' Clinton reportedly said that Sanders `` just drove me crazy . ''
`` He was in Congress for years .
He had one senator support him .
Nobody likes him , nobody wants to work with him , he got nothing done , '' Clinton said .
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published in January , Clinton also criticized the Sanders campaign for the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their relentless attacks on lots of his competitors , particularly the women . ''
'Nobody likes him ' : Hillary Clinton slams Bernie Sanders in new documentary Though Clinton said she would do what she could to defeat President Donald Trump , she stopped just short of saying she 'd endorse Sanders and campaign for him should he win the nomination .
She defeated Sanders in the 2016 primary , after which he endorsed her candidacy .
Tlaib was joined onstage Friday by Reps. Ilhan Omar , D-Minn. , and Pramila Jayapal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders for president .
Tlaib 's comments come just days before Iowans will caucus for the Democratic nomination on Monday .
Sanders tightly leads polling in that state , followed closely by former Vice President Joe Biden .
Final vote is Wednesday : What we know about the vote on whether to acquit or convict Trump

Rep. Rashida Tlaib boos Hillary Clinton at a Bernie Sanders event in Iowa over 'nobody likes him' comment
Show Caption Hide Caption Democratic debate: Sanders and Warren on whether a woman can win Senators Sanders and Warren are given an opportunity to clarify what was reported as a disagreement over whether a woman can win. USA TODAY
Democratic Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib hit back at former 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton over comments she reportedly made in a forthcoming documentary, when she said "nobody likes" Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Speaking as a Sanders presidential campaign surrogate during a Friday panel discussion in Iowa, Tlaib booed the secretary of state as the audience erupted.
Event moderator Dionna Langford tried to temper the reaction of the crowd when she mentioned Clinton's comments, saying "We're not gonna boo, we're not gonna boo. We're classy here."
"No, no. I'll boo. Boo," Tlaib chimed in. "You all know, I can't be quiet. No, we're gonna boo. That's alright. The haters will shut up on Monday when we win."
‘He shouldn’t have done it.’: GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander who scolded Trump on Ukraine explains why he backs acquittal
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Detroit is trending on Twitter now after she cuts off a moderator at Bernie Sanders rally saying not to boo Hillary Clinton: “No, I’ll boo. Booooo. You all know. I can’t be quiet....The haters will shut up on Monday when we win.” pic.twitter.com/Y3hw6Ivm6b — Niraj Warikoo (@nwarikoo) February 1, 2020
Tlaib issued a statement Saturday morning, acknowledging she let her frustration "get the best" of her.
"I am so incredibly in love with the movement that our campaign of #NotMeUs has created. This makes me protective over it and frustrated by attempts to dismiss the strength and diversity of our movement," Tlaib said. "However, I know what is at stake if we don't unify over one candidate to beat Trump and I intend to do everything possible to ensure that Trump does not win in 2020."
She continued, saying, "I will continue to strive to come from a place of love and not react in the same way of those who are against what we are building in this country."
“In this instance, I allowed my disappointment with Secretary Clinton's latest comments about Senator Sanders and his supporters get the best of me. You all, my sisters-in-service on stage, and our movement deserve better. (3/4) — Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) February 1, 2020
In the documentary, a four-part series on Hulu titled "Hillary," Clinton reportedly said that Sanders "just drove me crazy."
"He was in Congress for years. He had one senator support him. Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work with him, he got nothing done," Clinton said.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published in January, Clinton also criticized the Sanders campaign for the "culture" of "online Bernie Bros and their relentless attacks on lots of his competitors, particularly the women."
'Nobody likes him': Hillary Clinton slams Bernie Sanders in new documentary
Though Clinton said she would do what she could to defeat President Donald Trump, she stopped just short of saying she'd endorse Sanders and campaign for him should he win the nomination. She defeated Sanders in the 2016 primary, after which he endorsed her candidacy.
Tlaib was joined onstage Friday by Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who have also endorsed Sanders for president.
Tlaib's comments come just days before Iowans will caucus for the Democratic nomination on Monday. Sanders tightly leads polling in that state, followed closely by former Vice President Joe Biden.
Final vote is Wednesday: What we know about the vote on whether to acquit or convict Trump


usatoday--2020-02-01--Senate negotiates end to Donald Trump impeachment trial

Impeachment trial expected to end after State of the Union The Senate is expected to begin closing arguments in President @ @ @ @ @ on Monday .

Impeachment trial expected to end after State of the Union
The Senate is expected to begin closing arguments in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial on Monday.
USA TODAY, Associated Press


usatoday--2020-02-01--Warren, Sanders, Klobuchar and Bennet will have to juggle Trump impeachment trial and the Iowa caucu

The four members of the Senate running for president may need to watch Iowa caucus results from Washington , D.C. , and not Iowa , on Monday as the impeachment trial overlaps with the first nominating contest in the 2020 election .
Members of the Senate are required to remain in the Capitol for the duration of the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump , and closing arguments begin Monday , the same day as the caucuses .
That poses an issue for Sens .
Amy Klobuchar , Bernie Sanders , Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bennet , all candidates with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bennet said the timing was n't perfect , but explained he would be in Washington to fulfill his duty .
`` I think we have to be where we have to be , '' the Colorado Democrat said , `` and where we have to be on Monday is here . ''
More : Trump expands controversial travel ban restrictions to six new countries Klobuchar , D-Minn. , another Democrat who will have to be in Washington during the caucuses , said she was n't sure exactly how Monday was going to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be in Iowa .
`` I 'm just taking one day at a time , '' the Minnesota Democrat said .
Asked about the scheduling conflict , Sanders , I-Vt. , said , `` Well , I 'm on my way to Iowa right now . ''
The trial is expected to wrap up Wednesday with a final vote on whether to acquit or convict and remove Trump from office coming at 4 p.m. EST .

Nicholas Wu, Savannah Behrmann and Christal Hayes, USA TODAY

Warren, Sanders, Klobuchar and Bennet will have to juggle Trump impeachment trial and the Iowa caucuses Monday
Show Caption Hide Caption On Iowa Caucus Day, impeachment trial keeps four candidates away President Trump's impeachment trial is keeping four presidential candidates in Washington on Iowa Caucus Day. USA TODAY
The four members of the Senate running for president may need to watch Iowa caucus results from Washington, D.C., and not Iowa, on Monday as the impeachment trial overlaps with the first nominating contest in the 2020 election.
Members of the Senate are required to remain in the Capitol for the duration of the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, and closing arguments begin Monday, the same day as the caucuses.
That poses an issue for Sens. Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bennet, all candidates with a lot riding on the contest.
More: Final vote in Trump impeachment trial will occur Wednesday. Closing arguments Monday
Bennet said the timing wasn't perfect, but explained he would be in Washington to fulfill his duty.
"I think we have to be where we have to be," the Colorado Democrat said, "and where we have to be on Monday is here."
More: Trump expands controversial travel ban restrictions to six new countries
Klobuchar, D-Minn., another Democrat who will have to be in Washington during the caucuses, said she wasn't sure exactly how Monday was going to work or whether she would be able to be in Iowa.
"I'm just taking one day at a time," the Minnesota Democrat said.
Asked about the scheduling conflict, Sanders, I-Vt., said, "Well, I'm on my way to Iowa right now."
The trial is expected to wrap up Wednesday with a final vote on whether to acquit or convict and remove Trump from office coming at 4 p.m. EST.


usatoday--2020-02-01--Senate rejects motion to call more witnesses in Donald Trump impeachment trial

With the vast majority of senators voting along party lines , a motion to call witnesses failed in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ trial .

Impeachment trial: Senate motion to call witnesses fails
With the vast majority of senators voting along party lines, a motion to call witnesses failed in the U.S. Senate in Trump's impeachment trial.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-01-31--OnPolitics: Will there be new witnesses in the impeachment trial? Asking for a friend.

Senators heard for hours on Friday a case for and against the need to have additional testimony in the Senate impeachment trial .
This comes after two days of questions .
House managers repeated the claim that it was the Senators ' constitutional duty to `` try '' the case by subpoenaing witnesses and documents .
Trump 's defense team said the Senate should n't be expected to do the investigative required by the House .
I do n't have much time .
What 's the news ?
The Senate voted to reject introducing additional witnesses and documents in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats wanted testimony from four officials , including former national security adviser John Bolton and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney , but fell short .
The vote went 51-49 , largely along party lines .
What happens now ?
The Senate will now debate how to close the trial .
A vote on conviction is n't expected to take place until next week , but anything is possible .
Remember that Trump 's State of the Union speech is also next week .
The House Democrats prosecuting the case and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliver closing arguments , but the length is among the issues open to debate .
Senate leadership must also decide how much time senators have to debate the verdict , and whether to have that debate in open or closed session .
First of all , this is history .
It 's all pretty interesting if you know what to look for .
But Friday provided a few moments worth pointing out .
• House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff accused Trump lawyer Pat Cipollone of hiding evidence .
Schiff was referencing media reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine .
• Sen. Lisa Murkowski , R-Alaska , announced she ’ s a ‘ no ’ vote on calling witnesses .
Murkowski was the last of a handful of Republicans who had expressed a potential openness to witnesses .
• Patrick Philbin , deputy White House counsel , argued that the accusation of obstruction was illegitimate because Trump was exercising his constitutional rights to protect the release of information in defying congressional subpoenas .

OnPolitics: Will there be new witnesses in the impeachment trial? Asking for a friend.
Show Caption Hide Caption Presidential impeachment: Clinton, Johnson, Nixon test U.S. democracy Presidents have been impeached, but none have been removed from office due to impeachment. Confusing? Here's how. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Senators heard for hours on Friday a case for and against the need to have additional testimony in the Senate impeachment trial. This comes after two days of questions.
House managers repeated the claim that it was the Senators' constitutional duty to "try" the case by subpoenaing witnesses and documents.
Trump's defense team said the Senate shouldn't be expected to do the investigative required by the House.
I don't have much time. What's the news?
The Senate voted to reject introducing additional witnesses and documents in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.
Democrats wanted testimony from four officials, including former national security adviser John Bolton and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, but fell short.
The vote went 51-49, largely along party lines.
What happens now?
The Senate will now debate how to close the trial. A vote on conviction isn't expected to take place until next week, but anything is possible. Remember that Trump's State of the Union speech is also next week.
The House Democrats prosecuting the case and Trump's defense team are expected to deliver closing arguments, but the length is among the issues open to debate.
Senate leadership must also decide how much time senators have to debate the verdict, and whether to have that debate in open or closed session.
Did I miss anything interesting?
First of all, this is history. It's all pretty interesting if you know what to look for. But Friday provided a few moments worth pointing out.