By Dayo Benson Editor Politics,Law/Human Rights, New York
Friday night, seven Democratic Presidential candidates mounted the debate stage in New Hampshire, ahead of Tuesday’s primary. It was the eighth Democratic Presidential debate. However, Monday February 3, 2020, Iowa Caucuses remain chaotic.
There was no clear winner Thursday, February 6, 2020, night when the full results were released. Iowa Democratic Committee is expected to declare a Winner today, Saturday at 1p.m. Eastern Standard Time, EST. Former Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Senator Bernie Sanders, are laying claim to victory. Buttigieg is slightly ahead with 26.2% delegates equivalent, Sanders came very close with 26.1%. He however won the highest popular votes.
The result delay is unprecedented. Results were released same day day in 2008 and 2016. Failure of telephone App designed to transmit results across Iowa precinct threw what was supposed to be a seamless exercise into disarray. Democratic Committee watchers wondered why the App was not tested days before the Caucuses.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, was the the biggest loser. He trailed distant fourth behind Senator Elizabeth Warren. Senator Amy Klobuchar came fifth, while Andrew Yang and billionaire Tom Steyer followed sixth and seventh.
Biden’s disappointing performance in the Iowa Caucuses has somewhat cast a doubt on his electability. As a former Vice President, he was expected to put up a strong showing in
Iowa. His campaign team took a cue from dismal outcome and re-strategized. There was a minor shake-up at the top echelon Friday. Beyond this, his age is a concern among a fraction of his supporters and undecided voters. At one of his campaign trails, Biden challenged a young man who raised the issue of his age to a push up contest. Many are not convinced. He appears spent at times. A BBC reporter described him as “listless”, he added, “he looks like one who has done his dash.”
Former South Indians Mayor Buttigieg, is perhaps the biggest revelation of the Iowa contest. Some unstable supporters of other candidates and undecided voters are gravitating towards him. Flawlessly articulate, the former Naval Intelligence Officer, is a product of Harvard and Oxford Universities. The youngest of the lot, Buttigieg, 37, became mayor at 29. Opponents believe his inexperience is a drawback to his presidential quest. He declared he is gay in 2015.
Senator Sanders who describes himself as a “Democratic Socialist”, has moved on despite the Iowa debacle. His campaign is focused on New Hampshire. There are reports of vicious cyber bullying within the campaign. Sanders, Friday, accused Buttigieg of being funded by billionaires who may manipulate him if he becomes president.
It remains to be seen if Senators Warren and Klobuchar can still turn things around. Despite the Iowa showing, they still hold on to their support bases somehow. Yang and Steyer should not be ruled out.
Billionaire former Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, is running on his own steam. Like Steyer, his campaign is self financed. He has refused to participate in the debates. His eyes are on the Super Tuesday, on March 3, rather than the early four primaries. He has visited Virginia four times this week ahead of big primaries. He is seen as a candidate who can outspend Trump’s campaign. Critics have accused him of trying to buy America’s presidency with his stupendous wealth.
For the potential Democratic Nominee’s opponent, President Donald Trump, it has been a week of victory. His acquittal at the Senate of the House of Representatives’ impeachment articles has given fillip to his approval rating. He gloated over Democrats chaotic Iowa Caucuses. Biden’s lack luster performance also appears to have given Trump some political oxygen, at least for now. Will the Democratic Committee in New Hampshire put their acts together and get the primary rights on Tuesday or will it be haunted by the specter of Iowa caucuses chaos?