DES MOINES, Iowa — Andrew Yang’s unconventional campaigning style is on full display in Iowa on the eve of the opening Democratic presidential primary contest.
Yang, 45, took a dig at the race’s front-runner, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, 78, Sunday morning when he jumped off of a chair on which he was standing to address supporters at a canvass launch in Ames.
“Let’s see Bernie do that,” the entrepreneur and political novice quipped.
“Let’s see @BernieSanders do that!!” says @AndrewYang as he jumps a few feet off a chair in Ames, Iowa
Crowd goes wild pic.twitter.com/zFdVlIDXnU
— Zohreen Shah (@Zohreen) February 2, 2020
Unlike other lower-tier candidates whose White House hopes are pinned on New Hampshire, a state where he went to high school, Yang is spending the final 24 hours before Iowa Democrats gather to caucus ginning up campaign volunteers across the state.
At his final rally in Des Moines on Saturday night, he made his closing pitch as a consummate Washington, D.C., outsider.
“Donald Trump’s our president in part because he said he wanted to drain the swamp. Des Moines, I want to do something a little bit different. I want to distribute the swamp,” he said.
During the event, his campaign played a “how to caucus” video to the estimated 800 attendees, indicative of the number of Yang supporters who are first-time caucus-goers.
Interesting too – they are now playing instructional video to the whole crowd – explains what to do if you’re a registered Republican or not registered at all. @AndrewYang #IowaCaucus pic.twitter.com/ek4T1QKpbo
— MaryAlice Parks (@maryaliceparks) February 2, 2020
Along with his ability to bring new people into the process, he also touted his appeal to Trump voters.
“I’m laser-focused on solving the same problems that Trump pointed out, but I have actual solutions that they will see and feel. A lot of it is just that they know that I see the problems, and I care about them, every single day,” he said Saturday.
Yang says he’s winning over Trump voters because “I’m laser focused on solving the same problems that Trump pointed out, but I have actual solutions that they will see and feel. A lot of it is just that they know that I see the problems and I care about them, every single day.”
— Alexandra Jaffe (@ajjaffe) February 2, 2020
Despite the grassroots energy of the “Yang Gang,” demonstrated both in-person and online, their candidate still only averages 3.8% support and is unlikely to leave Iowa with any delegates needed for the nomination, according to RealClearPolitics data.
He has, however, managed to outlast more conventional contenders, including senators and governors, and has qualified for the New Hampshire debate on Feb. 7 after meeting the polling and fundraising requirements last month.
