Senator Tom Harkin Pumps Up Hillary Clinton at the Iowa ‘Climate Emergency Caucus’
(EnviroNews DC News Bureau) — Des Moines, Iowa — At a mock caucus event held 7-900 pm on Friday January 29, 2016, at the Central Campus High School auditorium in Des Moines, representatives from all three Democratic presidential campaigns were on the scene, making pitches for why their candidate is the best suited to lead America through the climate crisis.
The Bernie Sanders camp deployed Jean Ross, Co-President of National Nurses United, to represent for the Senator, while Governor Martin O’Malley sent his own sister Bridget Hunter out to explain to the pumped up crowd why he would be the best climate leader.
Hillary Clinton’s campaign sent retired longtime Iowa Senator Tom Harkin to do the talking for the former Secretary of State. Harkin was greeted by a standing ovation from the crowd before he even got on stage to speak.
It was explained to attendees that the simulated caucus was a hybrid-style between the traditional Democratic and Republican formats, wherein participants would be asked to first break into preference groups, and then cast a vote as well.
Despite Harkin’s popularity with the locals, and his formidable endorsement for Secretary Clinton as the next great climate leader, the crowd wasn’t buying it and voted in a landslide for Bernie Sanders by the time the event was through. The Vermont Senator snatched away an impressive 67% of the vote — bringing in a grand total of 80. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton finished a sad second, tallying only 15 votes, while former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley came in third with 13. 12 participants were undecided and failed to cast a vote.
The 501c4 group The Climate Mobilization sponsored and organized the forum and announced they had invited all candidates in the GOP field as well, though none chose to attend or send a representative.
The full recap of this model caucus event with extended video coverage of the keynote speakers can be linked to just below.
Bernie Sanders Blows Away Field in Iowa ‘Climate Emergency Caucus’
FILM AND ARTICLE CREDITS
- Emerson Urry - Journalist, Author
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