Democrats woo Iowa party activists at feisty festival as race kicks off

Former US Vice President Joe Biden still leads the Democratic pack of presidential contenders in a poll of Iowa voters, with Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg in a tight battle for second place. But he was present in the veiled criticism from several of his rivals. Why should he? He still has eight more months before Iowans will gather for the caucuses as the first state to pick a Democratic presidential nominee. Some chose to nudge the national front-runner, and leader in a new Iowa poll, without naming him. The number is substantially higher, 39 percent, among all those who list another candidate as their first choice.

In his speech, Sanders noted a "well-intentioned" candidate who thinks "the best way forward is a middle-ground strategy that antagonizes no one, that stands up to nobody and that changes nothing". The only other candidates who are also regarded as serious options in this way by more than 50 percent of that subset of Iowa voters are Sanders (with 56 percent) and Buttigieg and Harris (with 52 percent each). Kamala Harris (D-CA) or Southbend Mayor Pete Buttigieg could beat him if their popularity continues.

Buttigieg said Democrats won't win by "playing it safe" or by promising a return to normalcy. "We are where we are because normal broke", he said.

Seven candidates in the race have barely any name recognition or support among Iowa voters - who will hold the first Democratic nominating contest for the primaries on Monday, February 3, 2020.

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and former Texas Representative Beto O'Rourke are at 2 per cent, and all other candidates received 1 per cent or less in support in the important caucus state.

Bash Biden, berate Trump, or both? Biden said he would be attending his granddaughter's graduation before returning to the campaign trail.

The poll was taken June 2-5 and polled 600 people likely to participate in the Democratic caucus. The poll asked respondents who their first choice is for president.

A Des Moines Register-CNN-Mediacom poll published Saturday showed Biden favored in Iowa, followed by Sanders, Warren and Buttigieg.

Last Thursday, he came out against the amendment.

Warren noted her steady efforts in the state, drawing subtle contrasts with Biden. That is how we build a grass-roots movement in America.

Biden has been holding often twice-weekly, big-dollar fundraisers with groups hosted by wealthy business executives and successful trial lawyers, as he plans to do in Chicago on Wednesday.

"He will have to show, in that first debate especially, that his age is not a problem". Participation in the debates depends on a candidate's strength in the polls and campaign contributions.

In the convention-like environment, there was plenty of swag from the candidates to grab the attention of the attendees. It shows a lot of momentum and it shows that campaigning works.