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SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Julián Castro shook hands in the living room of an Iowa lawyer and waited patiently to deliver his speech on the presidential elections to the 57 Democrats who had come to hear him. But the people in the dining room who were nibbling on pita chips had not understood the message – and did not connect to the former mayor of San Antonio until after that. a man standing near the front puts two fingers in his mouth and gives him a shrill and shrill hiss. silence the room.
One day later and 200 km from the state in Ankeny, Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) Went on stage for a standing ovation and looked at a room still filled with voters. His first public campaign event in Iowa drew 760 people and let the staff scramble to add extra seats.
A half dozen prominent Democrats traveled to Iowa this weekend, looking for an impetus for a primary presidential campaign or trying to get into a field already crowded. This weekend, Iowa has split into two campaigns.
On one side, Harris, who continues to attract large crowds and in search of self-equality that she has enjoyed since the announcement of her candidacy. On the other side were all the others, Democrats like Castro, former Colorado governor John Hickenlooper and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose crowds were double-digit and who They called themselves outsiders while they implored Iowans to keep an open mind.
"When I ran for [Denver]Mayor, nobody thought I had a chance, "said Hickenlooper, who is looking to find out if he needs to participate in the race and talked about the sounds of the espresso machine and an uncomfortable sound system in a Sioux City café. "When I ran for the governor, nobody thought I had a chance. Now, nobody thinks I have a chance. "
A few minutes later, he emphasized the interest of his joke during an impromptu press conference with journalists. The first question he was asked was how to say and spell his name. Then he was asked for his title.
The Democratic presidential candidate, Julián Castro, talks with Sandra Puntenney at an event organized by Boone County Democrats in Boone, Iowa, on Saturday. (Stephen Maturen / Getty Images)
"Free agent." About six weeks ago, I was Colorado's governor, "he said.
About 45 minutes before Senator Michael F. Bennet of Colorado was supposed to address the Polk County Democrats on Friday afternoon, Deb Hansen rushed to the door of Doc's Lounge, a small bar nestled in a shopping mall in Johnston, Iowa, dragging a portable speaker. . The organizers thought they could use local group material for the senator's remarks, but this group was only expected later. Hansen and his 6-year-old granddaughter came to the rescue. Kenna Meredith nibbled at a high table while her grandmother was busy helping out. The volunteers hung a welcome sign at Bennet, another potential presidential candidate, while some voters rushed to grab a beer.
"You should complain to the Democrats of Polk County," joked an elector in front of Bennet's staff, comparing his reception to that of the Democratic Senator from Minnesota. "The sign of Amy Klobuchar was twice as big."
About 45 minutes before Harris spoke to the Asian and Latino Coalition on Capitol Iowa Saturday, which was supposed to be a smaller private event before his city hall, national and local television cameras were were installed at the back of the room. . The chairs around a large table were labeled with the names of the participants, each with a microphone nearby, and the staff members wondered whether the room, which was planned for an event with 60 spectators, could contain the 100 or so people who had already attended. answered the question.
When she answered a question about US chess in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria with the words "as president, because I intend to win this election," the chamber welcomed.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, right, hands his autograph to Sandi O 'Brien of Sioux City, left, before an event hosted by the local Democratic Party in Sioux City, Iowa, Saturday. (Justin Wan / AP)
"She is already trying to bring people together," said Prakash Kopparapu, chairman of the Coalition.
At City Hall, Harris seemed to imply a high status as she spoke of "leadership qualities", "a vision for America" and a "public service record" that voters should take into account.
"I've served as a local government leader, state government and now the federal government. I've seen the government's impact on the lives of people at every level and the experience I've gained – including leading an office of nearly 5,000 people when I'm in business. was attorney general of California – told me that it's important to think about when we occupy these powerful positions. how our work impacts real people and the priority given to it. "
Certainly, other Democratic presidential candidates who have raised millions of dollars and attracted a large crowd were not in Iowa this weekend. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey campaigned Sunday in Nevada, while Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts spent the weekend in New Hampshire. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Who announced his candidacy on Tuesday, will begin his campaign events next weekend.
Nevertheless, the perception of wealthy and disadvantaged candidates was evident across the state – and sometimes throughout the room.
At one point, Harris, Castro and Hickenlooper were at the same party, a Saturday evening soup supper in Ames. Castro entered quietly from behind and went to the tables conscientiously, shook hands and introduced himself. When people noticed that Harris had arrived, participants and television cameras headed toward her, blocking the center aisle of the room.
Candidates and voters were reluctant to make sense of the duality of a weekend in Iowa, to almost a year of caucuses that will pave the way for the 2020 vote. The field of candidates is already larger than most caucus veterans can remember. And voters said they had never so much caught the attention of candidates so early in an election cycle.
Iowans who attended the events said they were stunned but also thrilled, hoping to fulfill Iowa's traditional role of clearing the field.
"That's what we see, you know, it's our work in American democracy," said Al Sturgeon, Sioux City's lawyer and member of the Truman Club, which hosts Democratic presidential candidates, including Castro, Friday.
Almost all the candidates who campaigned in Sioux City had been mayors or governors – executives who extolled bipartisan successes in solving problems, not just in the debate.
"We need people with visions," Hickenlooper told reporters after naming his name. "Many senators are dreamers, they talk well. I am a maker. "
De Blasio, who said he had not yet decided to run, told voters in Sioux City that the Democrats should name a "shameless progressive" that could excite party voters and set a clear contrast with Trump.
But few voters seemed to have chosen a candidate in a group of Democrats with similar positions on issues such as health care, criminal justice and climate change.
"A lot of people who call themselves Democrats have the same message or similar messages," said Tim Bottaro, a personal injury lawyer at the head of the Truman Club. "So, in many ways, it's about who is the best messenger."
This could give an advantage to someone like Castro if the party thinks that the best contrast with Trump is "someone who is young and fresh-faced," Bottaro said.
But, according to Mr. Iowan, he has only spoken to a few candidates in person and has not yet completed his assessment of the field. He expects next year to be a bit like this weekend, filled with stump speeches and handshakes from people trying to make themselves known.
It was not clear if Castro had managed to do it after his speech at Sturgeon's house.
Of the nearly 60 Democrats who came forward, only a handful of them wrote their contact details to receive mailings from the Castro campaign. Most did not buy a free sticker when they left.
The devoured pita chips, Sturgeon and Bottaro were already looking beyond Castro. There were even more candidates to invite to town, including perhaps the Ohio senator.
"Are you still in favor of welcoming Sherrod Brown?" Bottaro asked.
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