There are only a few hours left before the launch of the Democratic primary in Iowa and some of the eleven candidates running again, Sunday, February 2, campaign rallies.

Iowa will be the first state to vote on Monday evening to choose the Democratic candidate who will challenge Donald Trump during the November presidential election among Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Andrew Yang, Amy Klobuchar, Tulsi Gabbard, John Delaney , Tom Steyer, Deval Patrick and Michael Bloomberg.

On the eve of the vote, with great support from young people, Bernie Sanders remained at the top of the polls on this sparsely populated but very influential rural state. He is ahead of former Vice President Joe Biden (77), ex-mayor Pete Buttigieg (38) and progressive senator Elizabeth Warren (70).

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The enthusiasm of a crowd chanting "Bernie" is all the more remarkable since the senator was stranded in Washington for about two weeks from the end of the campaign which is usually played on the ground, almost voter by voter, in Iowa.

Like him, two other heavyweights of the Democratic race were retained in Congress until Friday by their functions of senators, for the trial in dismissal of president Donald Trump: Elizabeth Warren and the moderate Amy Klobuchar, fifth in Iowa.

Election springboard

Iowa traditionally plays the role of an electoral springboard. The state was notably the first to designate Barack Obama - then a relatively unknown young senator - during the 2008 Democratic primary.

A good result here will propel a candidate to new victories in the states which will then vote in cascade, starting with New Hampshire eight days later. A reverse may sign the end of the road.

Seven candidates still have to crisscross this state Sunday with the immense snowy plains and only three million inhabitants. To those who consider him too radical to rally, Bernie Sanders presented himself this weekend as the candidate most apt to "beat Trump" because he knows how to attract "millions of people who usually do not vote". Elizabeth Warren called on Saturday to "assemble to beat Donald Trump" in front of some 900 people in Iowa City.

Being able to beat Donald Trump in November is also the number one argument of former Barack Obama vice president Joe Biden. "We need a president who will be ready from day one," repeats this veteran of politics, first in polls at the national level.

Thousands of volunteers are busy to convince passers-by or neighbors to vote for their champion. Almost one in two Democratic voters in the state said they were undecided this week.

Monday at 7 p.m. (1 a.m. GMT Tuesday), more than 600,000 inhabitants affiliated to the Democratic Party are invited to come in about 1,700 rooms to publicly express their choice, by gathering under the banner of a candidate.

With AFP

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