‘Let’s head to New Hampshire’: Klobuchar thanks supporters following Iowa caucuses

Ben Rodgers
[KSTP/Ben Rodgers]

As the votes from Monday night’s Iowa caucuses were being counted, presidential candidate and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar thanked her supporters during an event in downtown Des Moines.

"Even in a crowded field of candidates, even during the well-earned impeachment hearing of Donald J. Trump, which had me bolted to my Senate desk for the last two weeks, we kept fighting," Klobuchar said. "And you kept fighting for me."

Klobuchar said because of her supporters and staff in Iowa, she has "beaten the odds every step of the way."

"We have done it on the merits, we have done it with ideas and we have done it with hard work," the candidate told the crowd.

The senator said she believes her campaign can continue through to the November primary with the right policy ideas and by uniting voters.

"We know that our party can’t win big by trying to out divide the divider in chief," Klobuchar said. "We know that we win by bringing people with us instead of shutting them out. Donald Trump’s worst nightmare is that the people in the middle, the people who have had enough of the name-calling and mudslinging have a candidate to vote for in November."

Klobuchar called on those in the room to continue their support as she heads to New Hampshire and other primary states.

"Let’s stay up, let’s stay happy and let’s head to New Hampshire," she said to cheers from her supporters.

Right before Iowa voters made their choice during the caucuses, presidential candidate and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar spoke to a group of nearly 350 caucus-goers at a precinct at Johnston Middle School in Johnston, Iowa.

During her speech, Klobuchar spoke of why she believes it is important to defeat President Donald Trump in November during the primary election.

"We come from a country of shared dreams, that no matter where we come from, or who we know, or the color of our skin, or who we love that we can make it in the United States of America," Klobuchar said. "And what this president has done is broken down that dream every single day."

While closing her short remarks, Klobuchar called on voters to remember what unites them while caucusing.

"Let us remember as you caucus, what unites all of you in your separate groups is bigger than what divides us," the senator said.

Klobuchar was able to garner the most votes in Johnston precinct 2 with 106 votes.

Sen. Bernie Sanders received 83 votes, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg received 81 votes and Sen. Elizabeth Warren received 69 votes. Former Vice President Joe Biden, Andrew Yang, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Tom Steyer were not viable at the precinct.

Johnston precinct 2 is one of 1,600 plus precincts in the state.

With the Iowa Caucus just hours away, supporters of presidential candidate and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar gathered Monday morning to doorknock in Des Moines to gain support for the senator.

The volunteers met at one of Klobuchar’s field offices in Des Moines, where they heard from the candidate’s husband and daughter, John and Abigail Bessler.

"We need someone who is going to get things done for America," John Bessler said to supporters. "There are so many pressing challenges we have in this country."

As a send-off for the volunteers, Bessler said, "Let’s finish strong, and let’s win this."

Some of those who showed up to volunteer said they have spent the past few weeks canvassing for Klobuchar, including Brad Carlson of New Brighton, Minnesota.

Carlson said while knocking on doors he’s seen quite a bit of support for Klobuchar and feels her message is resonating with Iowans.

"What I’m hearing while knocking on doors is there is a lot of support for Amy in Iowa," Carlson said.

While knocking on doors in southwest Des Moines, Minnesota State Rep. Dan Wolgamott said he also encountered voters who seem receptive to Klobuchar’s message. Wolgamott said about half the voters he spoke to said they plan to make Klobuchar their first choice during the Caucus, while others said they may consider Klobuchar as their second choice candidate.

"People are really receptive to the fact that Amy knows how to win in the Midwest, she knows how to win in those places where your average Democrat doesn’t usually win," Wolgamott said. "Also, people have been receptive to Amy’s track record of being able to work across the aisle and actually get things done."

Breigh Edwards, an Iowa voter who spoke with Wolgamott, said Klobuchar may not be her first pick but is open to any Democrat who is running.

"I think we all feel it’s anybody but Trump," Edwards said.