'I really like you': Iowa voters give Amy Klobuchar another look

[Shrek]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/i-really-like-you-iowa-voters-give-amy-klobuchar-another-look/2019/12/13/7dd717dc-1b6e-11ea-8d58-5ac3600967a1_story.html

By the time Sen. Amy Klobuchar took the stage inside a convention room overlooking the Mississippi River here, it was standing room only — just as it had been during other stops in recent days as the senator from Minnesota crisscrossed the state. It was a welcome sign for a Democratic presidential candidate who has often struggled to attract the same kind of energy as her rivals.

For months, the same four candidates have been at the top of the polls here in this key early voting state: former vice president Joe Biden, South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). But as Buttigieg faces more scrutiny and Biden struggles to generate enthusiasm, Klobuchar, a Midwestern centrist with a message of experience and electability, is attracting Iowans desperate to defeat President Trump. Her challenge is persuading them she has a shot at winning, an upward climb for the candidate.

She’s attracted increasingly large crowds in recent weeks — particularly in small towns that haven’t gotten as much love from other candidates and where many Democrats say they are still undecided.

Around the state, Democratic party chairs have reported hearing more interest in her. And though she was at 6 percent support in the latest Des Moines Register-CNN-Mediacom poll of likely caucus-goers — a distant fifth place — the poll found that 39 percent of likely caucus-goers were still actively considering her, a number she and her staff have seized on as proof there is space for her campaign to grow.

“If I had to make a bet on the candidate most likely to have a late breakout into the top tier in Iowa, it would be Amy,” said Peter Leo, chairman of the Carroll County Democrats in northwestern Iowa, who recently endorsed Warren in the race.

(More at link)

[Bleacher Creature]

1. I'm starting to think she may be the one.

It's way past time for a woman, and she also seems to be best positioned to do well in the Midwest. She's also really great on the stump.

I'd be thrilled with her as our nominee.

[Peacetrain]

2. I have talked to a number of people across the state..

and people keep bringing her up. She is definitely getting a second look.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287376058

[Gothmog]

3. I like Amy

Amy needs to do well in Iowa which is a neighboring state to have a chance. If Amy does not do well in Iowa, she will probably drop out

[judeling]

5. Yes

There is little reason for her to continue. I could see her giving NH a try but not anything past that.

[judeling]

4. This was always

her path and expectation.

Quite frankly she is in a better position then many think. Right now she is the only candidate that cannot to the general public disappoint in Iowa and basically the only one that could shockingly surprise.
With the media forcing a Warren/Buttigieg tiff and with the top 4 so closely bunched and the 15% math it is actually not unreasonable to see Sanders winning Iowa with Amy/Joe in second and third.

That is of course the path that Klobuchar is counting on and is not anything at this time more then a hope. But you can see how it would play out.

Just for an example if Biden goes into SC with Klobuchar nipping at his heals and Sanders coming off of three wins (with a Warren loss in NH) could happen all of a sudden that Biden Firewall is not so stable. We re told the core of the party are black women, the thing about demographics is that everyone is a member of more then one. Sanders, Biden coming into SC as two older white males against a younger experienced woman really shakes things up. Especially as she would be surging in the publics mind. Klobuchar has been laying that groundwork all along "3 women the Stage", "a female mayor with that experience".

Things need to break for her but the path is more then plausible.