The first time we interviewed the Democratic presidential candidates, late final spring, we had a pile of yes-or-no, either-or coverage inquiries t
The first time we interviewed the Democratic presidential candidates, late final spring, we had a pile of yes-or-no, either-or coverage inquiries to ask, a lot of them representing litmus-test points on the coronary heart of Democratic politics: single-payer well being care and international wars, wealth focus and tech regulation.
Our second spherical of interviews was totally different. For starters, we requested fewer candidates to take part, inviting solely those with a sensible shot at accumulating a considerable variety of delegates.
And we requested them, for essentially the most half, a distinct style of questions, exploring not simply coverage points but additionally their concepts about management and the presidency.
Our hope was to supply a set of interviews that will information voters attempting to make a tough ultimate choice about which candidate they’d prefer to put within the nation’s strongest job.
DES MOINES — The entrepreneur Andrew Yang certified for the following Democratic debate with a string of 4 robust polls launched in fast succession on Saturday and Sunday.
Two polls of New Hampshire voters — one from CNN and the University of New Hampshire, and the opposite from NBC News and Marist — confirmed Mr. Yang at 5 p.c, the minimal to qualify for the talk.
A nationwide Fox News poll additionally confirmed him at 5 p.c. And a nationwide ABC News/Washington Post poll launched Saturday discovered him at 7 p.c, his finest exhibiting ever in a debate-qualifying survey.
Mr. Yang, who didn’t qualify for the final debate, is the seventh candidate to qualify for the following one. He had lengthy since met the Democratic Nationwide Committee’s different qualification requirement: a minimal of 225,000 donors.
“America has spoken,” Mr. Yang’s marketing campaign chief, Nick Ryan, mentioned in a press release Sunday morning. “Voters clearly missed Andrew Yang’s presence in the latest debate, and now they’re ensuring he shall be on the talk stage in New Hampshire. The race for the nomination has solely simply begun, and Andrew Yang goes to maintain preventing for all Individuals to have their voices heard.”
Mr. Yang will be part of former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.; former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind.; Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts; and the previous hedge fund government Tom Steyer onstage in Manchester, N.H., on Feb. 7, 4 days earlier than the New Hampshire main.
STORM LAKE, Iowa — Pete Buttigieg had one in all northwest Iowa’s most coveted surrogates introduce him earlier than a town-hall-style occasion Saturday night time at Buena Vista College: David Johnson, a former state senator who in 2016 give up the Republican Get together when Donald J. Trump gained its presidential nomination.
Mr. Johnson, who didn’t search re-election in 2018, represents precisely what Mr. Buttigieg says he’d deliver because the Democratic presidential nominee: help from former Republicans disgusted with Mr. Trump.
The one downside? Mr. Johnson endorsed Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota in September. He’s planning to function a precinct captain for Ms. Klobuchar in his hometown, Ocheyedan, simply over the border between Iowa and Minnesota.
That didn’t cease the Buttigieg marketing campaign from informing reporters that Mr. Johnson, who launched Mr. Buttigieg as “the following president of the US,” had “introduced his help for him.”
Mr. Johnson mentioned after the occasion that he’s nonetheless backing Ms. Klobuchar.
“They’re two good candidates,” he mentioned. “I’m simply proud of somebody from the Midwest.”
Mr. Johnson mentioned he was requested to introduce Mr. Buttigieg after the scheduled introducer had automobile hassle and missed the occasion. He referred to as Mr. Buttigieg the following president, he mentioned, as a result of that’s simply one thing you say when somebody visits Iowa.
“It’s a courtesy,” he mentioned. “I might do it for anybody who had a D behind their title.”
Regardless of his affection for them, Mr. Johnson doesn’t count on both Mr. Buttigieg or Ms. Klobuchar to win the state’s caucuses.
“My prediction is Senator Sanders,” he mentioned, referring to Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who’s leading in the latest Iowa polling.
“There’s a whole lot of issues which have occurred, and Secretary Clinton didn’t do any good to tamp down his case,” he mentioned, referencing critical remarks Hillary Clinton made last week about her former main rival.
“I let you know, that man’s individuals are going to be on the market with a vengeance.”
AMES, Iowa — The impeachment trial scrambled plans for the senators competing within the Democratic main race. They might usually be blitzing Iowa within the ultimate days earlier than the caucuses, however they as a substitute spent a lot of the previous week in Washington, serving as jurors for the…