Harris claims Iowa momentum after first Democratic debates

[RandySF]

GRINNELL, Iowa — Two prominent Iowa Democratic activists said Friday they will back Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) after she stood out on the Democratic debate stage against higher-polling rivals.

Vergarie Sanford, minister of Mount Zion Refuge Center Church in Council Bluffs, and Tom Fisher, a Des Moines attorney, both joined Harris's team.

"Sen. Harris is a wonderful example of strength, intelligence and grace for all women," Sanford said in a statement. Fisher called the California Democrat a "rockstar."

"She is a joyful warrior," Fisher said.

Harris returns to Iowa for a three-day campaign swing next week, over the Fourth of July weekend.

Some Democratic caucusgoers will be eager to see Harris on the trail. The most common knock on Harris from activists is that she has not yet made the requisite appearances in their home towns.

"She has not been spending a lot of time in Iowa," said Paula Smith, an associate dean at Grinnell College, who watched Thursday's debate with area Democrats at a local brewery. Smith said she had met five of the Democratic candidates running so far, but not Harris.

Still, Harris has built an Iowa campaign team that rivals higher-polling candidates in size.



https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/450862-harris-claims-iowa-momentum-after-debates?__twitter_impression=true&__twitter_impression=true

[highplainsdem]

1. Wow. Two activists join her team and she claims Iowa momentum? If three join, does she win

the primary? Would four give her a GE victory?

[bluewater]

2. Iowa and New Hampshire are the launch pads

A failure to get off the ground in at least one would hamstring any campaign.

It's all about the ground game. Demonstrating organizational strength in the early states is vital.

[Peacetrain]

3. She was @ 7% at the last Des Moines Register Poll

Now Warren has made a lot of movement.. I live in Iowa.. and a lot of people liked Harris.. but they went Warren.. be interesting to see what the next polls say.. my guess is she is not moving a lot more in IA..

[DesertRat]

4. Kick