A coastal liberal goes to Iowa

What I learned after a week of campaigning in Iowa

I just wrapped up a week long trip to Iowa, a state I have never visited. I’m bona fide coastal liberal — I grew up in NJ and now live in San Francisco — so I decided to pop my own bubble. Iowa in January of an election year is a fascinating place to be. In one day I was able to see Vice President Biden, Senator Sanders and Senator Warren dishing out retail politics in its rawest form. Taking questions, shaking hands, holding babies, taking selfies — the full gamut.

It’s a new decade we are voting for the future.

Iowans are incredibly thoughtful voters

Most Iowans take pride in saying that they are “still listening and keeping and open mind.” They’ve been through this before and they know what their vote means for the election, the country, and the world. Caucus goers ask tough questions about local, national and international politics. They push candidates back if they didn’t answer their question. Iowans grilled me on why I’m supporting Booker. Regardless of where we landed they were warm, friendly and fired up that I came there from San Francisco to canvass.

That means a candidate with less money and brand recognition can do really well in the Iowa caucuses. You don’t need money, you don’t need polls, you just need Iowans.

Individual conversations really can help your candidate

I enjoyed the conversations I had with the folks I met. We didn’t always agree and there was always a back and forth. But in almost all cases the conversation ended with “thank you, great to speak with you!”. I’m actually being serious. Mind blown.

So call folks in Iowa (or any state) to support your candidate. Tell them you’re from out of state and they’ll be even MORE interested in speaking with you. After several conversations you’ll:

If you don’t have a candidate yet, phone bank for multiple candidates. Yes…why not? This is OK. People do it all the time. You’ll gain even MORE by doing this.

Cory Booker can upset the polls

Here comes the pitch :)

Cory Booker has a shot because he has the same number of local endorsements as Elizabeth Warren. By local endorsements I mean State Representatives, City Council Members, party chairs, local activists and the like. On caucus night, many undecided voters tend to caucus for whoever their local leaders support. That’s how Iowa caucuses are won.

The 69% of Iowans who are still searching for a candidate find Cory’s speeches to be riveting. Booker has brought people to tears talking about this personal story and his vision for unifying the country. You don’t hear any other candidates talking about having courageous empathy for Trump voters and even expressing love for Trump himself. His events are overflowing. Folks express their frustration that the DNC’s new rules keep him off the debate stage.

I got to Staff his talk in North Liberty Community College. Some Iowans decided on him on the spot. Some say, “I came in leaning on X, but he just convinced me to vote for him”. Others are visibly moved by his words, but in true Iowa form, don’t reveal their choice. You can feel the momentum picking up on the ground.

If Booker finishes in the top 3–4 places in Iowa, it will be a huge victory for him. He will show the country that he can push progressive values while speaking to moderates. This can ignite a diverse coalition of voters, many of whom already like him a lot but worry about his electability, to take on Trump.

Iowans knows how to upset elections. Just ask Barack Obama, John Kerry and Jimmy Carter. Booker can too.

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