Democrats say Biden must do more to win Iowa

[brooklynite]

The Hill

Former Vice President Joe Biden is using a high-profile visit to Iowa Tuesday to excoriate President Trump, a preview of what Biden’s campaign hopes will be the general election battle to come.

But Iowa Democrats say they have seen little evidence that Biden or his team are taking the first-in-the-nation caucus state seriously — and, they warn, other candidates have begun eating into the front-runner’s base of support.

...snip...

About half of the ten county Democratic chairmen and women interviewed for this story said they had heard from Biden’s team. Some received emails from a generic account, while others had not heard from the campaign at all.

Sean Bagniewski, who heads the Polk County Democratic Party, the largest local organization in the state, said he had only heard from a Biden representative on Monday, a day ahead of his visit.

“I've seen no signs of his presence in our county,” said Daniel Callahan, who heads the Buchanan County Democratic Party. “Most campaigns have reached out to me but not his.”

[MineralMan]

1. And where is Joe Biden going?

Why, he's going to Iowa, and is about to make a speech trashing Trump. How about that?

[msongs]

2. those precious Iowans think their elitist un-democratic caucuses are so important nt

[brooklynite]

4. ...because they are.

The Iowa Caucus tests an candidate's ability to engage with voters one-to-one, and organize voters to actually show up and vote. Not every candidate can.

[SouthernProgressive]

5. It's not a one size fits all event.

What did Clinton get his first time in Iowa?

[SharonClark]

9. LOL! I'm an Iowan but not precious nor elitist.

The caucuses aren't un-democratic but they do attract the most politically active voters, so in Iowa, the most liberal Dems.

[bitterross]

3. Why is Iowa important?

Other than it's the first, why is such a tiny state so important?

[SharonClark]

7. Because it expects candidates to show up and not phone it in.

Because most candidates like Iowa's retail politics where they meet real people and not just political action committee representatives.
Because candidates have to speak in complete thoughts and not just teevee sound bites.
Because candidates can improve their pitch and appeal.
Because lesser known candidates don't need as much money to catch fire.

[LibFarmer]

8. This story is from an anti-Biden journalist

and he is trying to raise expectations to make it appear that Biden fails even if he wins.

[brooklynite]

10. Is something factually wrong in the article?