Biden predicts ‘neck and neck’ finish in Iowa but won’t guarantee victory
January 31, 2020
Former Vice President Joe Biden on Friday predicted a “neck and neck” finish with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses next week, stopping short of guaranteeing victory in the nation’s first presidential nominating contest.
Asked during an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America” whether he would emerge triumphant in Iowa on Monday, Biden told host George Stephanopoulos: “I think it’s going to be really close, George. It’s neck and neck. Bernie’s up, I’m up. Actually, there’s basically a statistical tie.”
Biden went on to warn of the consequences of poor weather conditions for the first-in-the-nation caucuses, which could dent his support among older Iowa Democrats averse to trekking out in the snow. Sanders’ caucus-goers, meanwhile, are more likely to skew younger.
“You know, George, this situation better than anybody. If there’s a big snowstorm in certain parts of the country — certain parts of the state, it could have an effect,” Biden said. “So the caucus is — you have to be able to come to a gymnasium, stay there for two, three hours, and it takes a lot of commitment. And we’ll see who shows up.”
Biden remains the tentative nationwide frontrunner in the Democratic primary race, but has been battling an ascendant Sanders in Iowa, where the two candidates are essentially locked in a dead heat for a coveted first-place showing in the caucuses.
“I feel good, George. I’m a tactile politician,” Biden said. “Everywhere I go, the response has been great. I’m feeling good about it, and I’m feeling good about my chances in other states as well.”
Source: https://www.politico.com/
