2019
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IA-Sen: National Party Coalesces Behind Greenfield, Mauro Points To Poll
The Democratic field may still expand in the race to unseat Sen. Joni Ernst, but influential parts of national party leadership is quickly coalescing around one candidate. Theresa Greenfield, a small business owner from Des Moines, joined two other candidates in the race June 3 with an announcement video. By last Wednesday, she already had…
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Who Iowans Thought Stood Out At Democrats’ Big Hall Of Fame Event
Today’s party gathering in Cedar Rapids was the largest crowd yet for an Iowa Caucus event, and 19 presidential candidates took the opportunity to impress the key activists who showed up. For many of the Iowans there, it was their first time hearing in-person from a dozen or more of the contenders. Starting Line fanned…
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Key Takeaways From Every Democrat’s Speech At Major Iowa Gathering
Nineteen presidential candidates made their case to a ballroom packed full of the very Democratic activists who will help determine the next nominee of the party. Despite the lengthy program line-up, the day actually ran decently on-time, and most attendees stuck around for the full three hours. How do you make your case to be…
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Bernie Sanders Marches With Striking McDonald’s Workers To Dem Event
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders marched with a crowd of hundreds to the Iowa Hall of Fame event in Cedar Rapids Sunday afternoon with striking McDonald’s workers from Des Moines and Cedar Rapids. The workers were demanding the right to unionize so they can raise their pay, end sexual harassment and workplace violence. Chants of "This…
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Amy Klobuchar Receives Another Iowa Legislator Endorsement
Senator Amy Klobuchar landed her second Iowa endorsement just in time for her speech at the Iowa Hall of Fame Dinner in Cedar Rapids this Sunday afternoon. State Representative Marti Anderson announced her support for Klobuchar, citing the senator’s experience in working on mental health care issues and criminal justice. Anderson represents House District 36…
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Early Scenes From The Biggest Iowa Caucus Event Yet
It’s the most important weekend of the Iowa Caucus yet, with 19 candidates descending upon Cedar Rapids to speak at a major fundraiser that nearly every key Iowa Democratic activist is at. The Hall of Fame Celebration is officially about honoring party activists and elected officials, but it’s really the kick-off of a new phase…
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How The Candidates Celebrated Pride In Des Moines
You couldn’t walk more than a block at Des Moines’ Pride Fest this Saturday without bumping into a presidential candidate. Bernie Sanders attracted throngs of young people as he made his way through E. Locust Street in the East Village. Kirsten Gilllibrand had a local drag queen walk her around. And Pete Buttigieg gave a…
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Early Scenes From Candidates At Pride Fest
It’s Pride Fest Weekend in Des Moines, and the 2020 presidential candidates are out in force to meet local Iowans and show their support for the LGBTQ community. A candidate forum is set for later today, and Iowa Safe Schools is holding a tailgate for visitors to meet local LGBTQ youth. Close to a dozen…
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When Getting Booed Is The Strategy
John Delaney and John Hickenlooper both took an interesting approach to the California Democratic Convention last weekend, receiving boos from the room in response to their stances on Medicare for All and “socialism.” Delaney and Hickenlooper are running on two of the more moderate platforms (for Democrats, anyway), especially in regard to healthcare policy. And…
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Ep104: Listen To Our New Starting Line Team Members
Meet our new Iowa Starting Line reporters! We kicked off our rather large expansion this week, adding four new full-time political reporters to our team. They join Pat Rynard on the podcast to introduce themselves.
