Amy Klobuchar was the first candidate to take the stage at her Iowa headquarters in Des Moines to thank supporters and volunteers.
“We know there’s delays but we know one thing: we are punching above our weight,” Klobuchar said. “My heart is full tonight.”
Klobuchar characterized herself as a unifying candidate who can attract support from not only Democrats, but also independents and moderate voters to defeat Mr. Trump in November.
“Donald Trump’s worst nightmare is that the people in the middle, the people who have had enough of the name-calling and the mudslinging have a candidate to vote for in November,” Klobuchar said. “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare is that our fired-up Democrats will march to victory alongside a big coalition of Independents and moderate Republicans that see this election just as we do.”
The Minnesota senator contrasted herself with the president, who, she said, is using a playbook that seeks to “divide and demoralize,” while she aims to “unite and lead.”
“If you want a Democratic nominee who can make our tent bigger and our coalition wider and our coattails longer, if want that, I know you and I will fight for you,” Klobuchar said. “If you are sick and tired of the extremes in our politics and the noise and the nonsense, you have a home with me.”
Klobuchar said she is shifting her focus to New Hampshire, which will hold its primary February 11, and intends to travel to the state immediately.
“Somehow, some way I’m getting on a plane tonight to New Hampshire,” she said. “And we are bringing this ticket to New Hampshire.”
