DENVER, CO – Over the weekend, former Colorado Governor and Democratic presidential candidate, Hickenlooper met with voters in Des Moines, Charles City, Cedar Falls, Dubuque, Clinton, and Cedar Rapids. The trip was the first to the state since he formally announced his candidacy on Monday, March 4. The campaign released a recap of the two-day swing today, March 15. (VIDEO)
The Governor visited both Democratic strongholds and rural Trump counties – mirroring the coalition that carried him to reelection in Colorado in 2014. In one of the worst cycles for Democrats in 25 years nationwide, Hickenlooper won Colorado in 2014, while incumbent Democratic Senator Udall lost, due to Hickenlooper’s higher margins in rural and suburban parts of the state. The Governor was one of only two Democratic governors to win a swing state that year.
Before taking off for Iowa, the Governor raised $1 million in the first 48 hours of his campaign and hosted over 5,000 in Denver at a kick-off rally. According to the Des Moines Register, “that momentum seemed to carry over Friday. Answering questions on climate change, affordable housing and, of course, collaboration, Hickenlooper earned applause and laughs at his jokes at the packed [Des Moines’ Confluence Brewery]. Francis Boggus, a member of the Des Moines Planning and Zoning Commission, said Hickenlooper came across as someone who could get things done, and Iowans would like his folksy persona.”
After speaking in Des Moines Friday night, the Governor spoke to a “standing room only” crowd in a Charles City small business on Saturday morning. “Even a torrential rain/snow mix, cold and wind couldn’t dampen the interest of local voters who plan to participate in next year’s caucus. [Small business owner Jim] Davis said he likes that Hickenlooper is pragmatic — a description that surfaced several times throughout the two days of campaigning — and that he talks about what he’s for, including the major theme of his campaign: the collaborative approach.”
Hickenlooper then visited Cedar Falls to help get out the vote for Eric Giddens in Iowa’s special election for SD-30, before speaking at a coffee shop in Clinton. While in Clinton, the Governor impressed voters with his ability to bring people together and get things done. According to local broadcast affiliates, “One college student who attended the meet and greet says he liked what he heard [from Hickenlooper] today. ‘I like how he’s more centrist and looking to kind of compromise and reach out to those across the aisle and those who differ politically,’ says college student Matthew Current.”
The Governor’s swing ended Saturday evening at a “packed” brewery in Cedar Rapids, where “the former governor was inundated as the dozens of people there to see him pressed against a bank of pinball machines to snag a selfie or get a few words with the candidate. A corn farmer told [Hickenlooper] he was getting “screwed” by Trump’s trade policies and urged Hickenlooper to take his message to Iowa farmers. Others in the crowd squeezed behind staffers to hold up their phones and ask the candidate a few questions as they live streamed the interaction on social media,” according to the Des Moines Register.”
