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Sign this PetitionWarren supporters brave cold to show support, open 2nd Iowa office – Run Warren Run news 2/17
This is one in a series of semi-regular updates on our Run Warren Run effort and Senator Warren’s work to give all Americans a fighting chance.
We’re coming off a busy weekend for the Run Warren Run campaign, with great Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day events.
RUN WARREN RUN OPENS SECOND IOWA OFFICE. MoveOn opened a Run Warren Run office in Hiawatha on Monday, with MoveOn and Democracy for America members in attendance. It is the second Run Warren Run office in Iowa. The Cedar Rapids Gazette’s James Q. Lynch has more.
Iowa State Rep. Nate Willems discussed the importance of contested primaries at the office opening on Monday:
VIDEO: KCRG on the Hiawatha office opening
PRESIDENTS DAY WEEKEND EVENTS: Run Warren Run supporters held visibility events in Iowa, New Hampshire, Washington, D.C., and dozens of other states over the weekend.
DON’T MISS: The Rachel Maddow Show covers Run Warren Run’s activity on the ground in Iowa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4wpFKIwimg
Not even freezing temperatures could deter folks from showing their support by completing a symbolic run to the White House organized by Ready for Warren on President’s Day. CNN’s Dan Merica was on the scene:
“Amid a mix of suitcases and lost tourists avoiding the bitter Washington, D.C. cold, which was predicted to stay under 20 on Monday, a small group of supporters from the draft campaign Ready for Warren gathered at Union Station for a President’s Day run in honor of the Massachusetts Democrat. The plan was to run a total of two miles, from D.C.’s main train station to the Capitol complex—where Warren has her office—and finally to the White House.
“‘We are doing what we want her to do: Running to the White House,’ said Erica Sagrans, the group’s campaign manager.”
RT Sabrina Williams (@SabrinaTHSM): Preparing for the #RunWarrenRun jog to the White House despite the low temps.
MSNBC’s Alex Seitz-Wald recapped the run and several other events from the weekend in his article, “Frigid cold is no match for Warren backers’ warmth for senator”:
“In the key early presidential state of New Hampshire, activists braved massive snow drifts to hold signs for passing drivers, and on Saturday, gathered to make Valentines for Warren. ‘We are here today to ask Elizabeth Warren to be our Valentine and to run for president,’ said Jamie Shopland, who organized the event.
“In Iowa, which holds the nation’s first presidential caucuses, activists held their own ‘honk-and-wave visibility event’ this weekend, while others sent roses to Warren in honor of Valentine’s Day.”
Also in Iowa, supporter James Johansen talked with Sioux City’s ABC9 News about the campaign to convince Senator Warren to run for president:
“‘We want to let her know that she has a real chance, that the Progressives in this state are passionate about her policies and her stance and what she’s capable of. We want to let her know that in addition to having a contested primary we really believe that she is Presidential material,’ said James Johansen of Sioux City.”
Suzanne Laurent of the Seacoast Online reported that more than a dozen Warren supporters attended the New Hampshire wave-and-honk event including former state Senator Burt Cohen.
“We need the right and the left sides to agree to take the government back,” Cohen said. “A lot of people didn’t vote in November, especially young people, and we need people to be excited and talking about this.”
See more photos from Iowa Run Warren Run actions here.
REUTERS HIGHLIGHTS RUN WARREN RUN: Scott Malone writes about the New Hampshire Run Warren Run campaign office and staff organized by Democracy for America, noting that some “outside of the Warren camp” think her running would be beneficial to the Democratic party.
“We believe that she would be the strongest candidate in the general election… Our job is not only to convince Senator Warren to get into the race, it’s to focus the race on these issues… The plan is for us to build a campaign, to show Senator Warren that if she does decide to get into the race, there is a ready-made structure here in New Hampshire and Iowa,” [Kurt] Ehrenberg said. “We’re going to build an organization that is ready to go it she decides to run for president.”
Malone also noted the desire among many operatives for a contested primary:
“Candidates don’t like primaries, but primaries traditionally will make candidates stronger for the general election,” said Neil Levesque, executive director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. “While all the Republicans are fighting amongst themselves, they’re all having a chance to get on TV for a year. When there’s only one candidate, it’s more difficult to do that.”
MORE THAN 300,000 SUPPORTERS: The movement continues to grow, as more than 300,000 Americans have now signed up to support the Run Warren Run campaign.
Photo of Elizabeth Warren.
Elizabeth Warren photo taken by Tim Pierce.