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As part of an aggressive election campaign in the final weeks of the 2018 interim session, Senator Bernie Sanders returned to the state of Iowa this weekend, with the goal of Stimulate a Democratic congressional candidate who is trying to tip the state's most conservative district in blue.
"It's a pleasure to be back in Iowa," Sanders told a crowd of several hundred supporters gathered in Sioux City to bring together JD Scholten, Democratic candidate in the 4th district of Iowa Congress, against GOP party representative Steve King, provocative conservative and fervent. supporter of President Donald Trump known for his uncompromising rhetoric and his positions on immigration.
Sanders also delighted the crowd by telling the story of the nearly false victory of his bid for the 2016 presidential election on Hillary Clinton in the state's presidential caucuses.
AP
"When we arrived in Iowa, I think we were 3 or 5% in the polls, but then we had the opportunity to go all over this beautiful state …" and at the end of the day, coming from almost nowhere, we ended up tying Secretary Clinton, "said Sanders.
In the midst of rumors that he could organize a new presidential campaign in 2020, Sanders has sharply criticized Trump for a liar who has not kept his campaign promises for 2016, including expanding access to health care. health for all Americans.
"I have to tell you, and it does not please me to do that, that many times what Trump said that he would do for the American people turned out to be a lie. 39, he did, in many cases, was the exact opposite, "said Sanders," Donald Trump has presented himself to the presidency, came to Iowa, came in Vermont and said, "If elected, I will provide health care to all." But after his election, he worked hard to try to repeal the Affordable Care Act and to throw 32 million Americans, many of whom are here in Iowa, out of the health care they currently enjoy. "
Scholten echoed Sanders' message focused on health care, criticizing King for his vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
"He voted to withdraw health care to thousands of Iowans and millions of Americans, and he voted to remove protection from pre-existing conditions, then he went to the White House to go celebrate it, "said Scholten.
Voters are heard on key issues, a new presidential candidacy for Sanders 2020
Woodbury County, where Sioux City is located, voted for Trump over Clinton by almost 20 points in the 2016 election, but supporters of Scholten and Sanders say this year is different for the traditionally red zone and that they believe that health care is an important reason why there is enthusiasm on the Democratic side this year.
"I think JD has a chance to defeat King, he has run a very enthusiastic and popular campaign, he has traveled the entire district," said Al Sturgeon, 62, a lawyer and former state legislator in New York. Sioux Falls. Problem # 1 is King's lack of responsiveness, but secondly, health care. He voted for the repeal and not to replace it. He has never developed a plan. So I think health care is a big problem here. "
"If I had to pick a hot topic, I would say health care," said Ann Lentz, substitute teacher for Sioux City. "Pre-existing conditions, I am a patient with a pre-existing condition, so it strikes me."
"I deal a lot with the health care system because I'm a psychologist and we depend on third-party insurance, which is why I want the single-payer system to be the most equitable." think it's the fairest system, and it's the most efficient of them all, "said Jim Snowden, 66, at ABC News.
When asked whether they would support a Sanders 2020 presidential bid, some voters hesitated.
"I do not know if I would support him Bernie is a lot of enthusiasm," said Sturgeon, "I think the critical factor is his age, he has a lot of wit, he is the most I've never seen it, seen for its age, but by the end of his first term he would have turned 80 years old. "
"I'm not sure, it depends on who else shows up," Snowden said. "I'd like to see him run, but I do not know if I'll vote for him or not."
Noah Berger / AP Photo
Others were much more eager to express their support for another presidential candidacy from the Vermont senator.
"I could certainly [vote for him]"He is my favorite candidate of all time," said Patricia Sutherland, retired college administrator.
"Oh yes, that's what I hope," Lentz said.
Thomas McKinless / Call CQ / Getty Images
The district is the most Republican of the state, according to statistics from the Secretary of State of Iowa. Despite his penchant for controversy, King has only managed to get 60% or more votes in his district twice during his nearly 16 years. career year in Congress (2006 and 2012).
The then candidate, Donald Trump, had won the district by over 27 points in the 2016 election, but Scholten, a first-time candidate and former professional baseball player, has clearly outperformed King in the last leg of the campaign, recording more than four times the $ 151,673 that King has collected in the third quarter of 2018, according to reports from the Federal Election Commission.
FiveThirtyEight estimates that the race is "Probably Republican", giving King one in seven chance of being re-elected.
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This is obvious for all Iowan who have fallen in love with the growing obsession of King, who has eight mandates, to be a cultural provocateur.
The Sanders movement began in the far west of the state by a rally in Sioux City, while other demonstrations were planned at Fort Dodge and Ames, including a public meeting on security. social and an appearance at the Iowa State University homecoming parade, according to Scholten's campaign. .
King has again sparked outrage this week renting Toronto mayor Faith Goldy's candidate took part in a podcast produced by a neo-Nazi website at the White Nationalist rally last year in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Tom Williams / CQ Roll Call / AP Images
Scholten condemned the King's support for Goldy, written on Twitter"Once again, Steve King has spent more time supporting the right-wing leaders of other countries than he has focused on the needs of the people of our district. . "
the Monks' register, Iowa's largest newspaper, backed Scholten in his challenge to King last week, sharply criticizing the outgoing Republican president.
"It's obvious to any Iowan who fears becoming a cultural provocateur since Mr. King became a cultural provocateur," wrote the editorial board of the registry, "in nearly 16 years in Congress, King's main sponsor, reconfiguring a post office, he will not argue with his opponent and will rarely hold public meetings, he will spend more time meeting fascist leaders in Europe and retweeting neo-Nazis. "
GovTrack, a website that tracks the activities of the US Congress, confirms that King was in fact only the main sponsor of HR 2758, which redefined the post office in Glenwood, Iowa, as "William J. Scherle Post". Office building. "
Sanders' swing sparks speculation for 2020
Sanders' trip is part of an aggressive campaign lightning campaign in nine states, announced last week by the Vermont Senator's team. It began Friday with a protest in Bloomington, Indiana, for Congressional candidate Liz Watson.
"It's a diversity of Democrats on the list, ranging from probably progressive people to other progressive but not totally aligned with Bernie in all areas," Jeff Weaver, former director of the presidential campaign, told ABC News. current Sanders consultant. a phone interview last week.
Sanders also campaigned Saturday in South Carolina and stops are expected in Wisconsin, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and California in the coming weeks, while he continues to speculate on the possibility to mount a new candidacy for the presidency in 2020.
But Sanders is not the only Democratic candidate of 2020 to visit Iowa in the coming days.
Californian Senator Kamala Harris makes her first trip to Hawkeye State early next week, where she will join Congressional candidate Cindy Axne to attend the 3rd US Congress and other Democrat candidates in the United States. his two days in power.
Call by Bill Clark / CQ / Getty Images
Harris is expected to campaign in the center and east of the state, including Des Moines, Cedar Falls, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.
"There are so many things at stake this year," Harris said in a statement issued by the Democratic Party of Iowa this week. "We have seen how Republicans have sown the seeds of hatred and division in our country in the last two years."
"It is now time to hold them accountable, at all levels of government, and Iowans know it better than anyone, and I am delighted to come to Iowa to make sure everyone is using it. the most powerful tool possible as Americans, our votes, to: make real changes in Iowa and in our country ".
ABC News & MaryAlice Parks contributed to this report.
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