With 35 days to go until the Iowa caucus, and a looming Senate impeachment trial threatening to pull Elizabeth Warren off the campaign trail in January, the Senator has been traveling across Iowa over the past week.
On Saturday, her last stop of the day was in Des Moines, where she hosted an intimate town hall at a historic event center in the heart of the city.
The Polk County campaign staff was tasked with coordinating the event. I had two "official" jobs: Sign people in when they arrived, and secure caucus commitments from voters during and after the event. My third job: Meet the Senator.
The crowd eagerly awaiting Elizabeth Warren's appearance at the River Center in downtown Des Moines
As day turned to dusk, 1,500 Iowans shuffled through the doors, escaping the downpour outside. The crowd huddled in front of the portable stage on which the Senator would soon stand. A large Iowa state flag hung on the brick wall directly behind the stage. The press snapped photos from an elevated black podium in the back. Leon Bridges' River played on the loud speaker, and a chorus of excited chatter permeated the room. I maneuvered through the masses, clipboard in hand. I was doing my job, yes. But I was also jockeying for good position.
Finally, the music stopped. The conversations came to a halt. And the Senator emerged from behind the stage. She was met with enthusiastic cheers. People raised signs reading: "Nevertheless, She Persisted", "Warren for President" and "Dream Big, Fight Hard". After exchanging pinkies with two young girls, the Senator hopped onto the stage, right fist clenched in the air, and grabbed the microphone.
"Hello Des Moines! Here's what we're going to do today. I'm going to speak briefly, tell you a little bit about why I'm in this fight. Then I'm going to leave the rest of the time for questions. And then, most importantly, the reason we're all here… we're going to take selfies!"
Senator Elizabeth Warren introducing herself to a crowd of excited supporters
The senator spoke in her usual upbeat tone. She delivered an abbreviated version of her stump speech, focusing on the central themes of her campaign: rooting out corruption in Washington, and creating more opportunities for America's middle class. And she has plans. Starting with, on day one, passing the most sweeping set of anti-corruption reforms since Watergate.
The Senator then took audience questions. We held a raffle prior to the event to determine the ten audience members who would get to ask a question. I learned later, to my surprise, that we hadn't vetted the questions beforehand. A public school teacher asked Elizabeth about her plans to fund k-12 public schools and create more equity in education. A retired army veteran asked the Senator how she planned to vote on impeachment. And an aspiring politician asked if she had any advice for running as a progressive in a moderate district.
The Senator explained how a wealth tax, and a progressive taxation system that makes the wealthy pay their fair share, would help quadruple funding for k-12 public education, pay for universal child care and fund tuition-free public college. She told the army veteran that she read all 440 pages of the Mueller report when it was first released, and had concluded then that the President should be impeached. And, if called upon, she would return to the Senate for the trial because that is her constitutional duty. And she told the aspiring politician to hold true to her beliefs, regardless of the politics.
For the most part, Warren's answers were met with loud applause. But one woman asked Warren directly if she would abolish ICE. The Senator responded that we must address the humanitarian mess at the border, and reverse the president's discriminatory policies. She also outlined a plan to separate law enforcement from immigration enforcement. But she did not commit to doing away with the agency altogether, which seemed to frustrate the woman who asked the question.
After the Q&A, the crowd formed a line to the left of the stage to take selfies with the Senator, a tradition that has become a staple of Warren's campaign events. The campaign staff was told to wait until the end to get their own moment with the Senator.
I approached audience members as they waited on line to discuss what they thought of the event. Fortunately, my Warren pin and clipboard allayed any notions that I was attempting a "chat and cut".
The majority of the people I spoke with were strong Warren supporters, and assured me they would be caucusing for her on February 3rd. Some signed up for volunteer shifts to help us phonebank and knock on doors each weekend in January. I heard familiar concerns from those who were still undecided, or torn between multiple candidates: Is Warren electable? Is America really ready for a woman President? Are her policies realistic? (My answer was yes to all three).
After 90 minutes, the line was finally thinning out. Warren, taking a break from the selfies, sipped from a bottle of Coconut Water as one of her aides whispered in her ear. I received a nod from the organizing director indicating that it was okay to get in line now. With only a few people in front of me, I contemplated what I would say. I also really wanted to check if I had any schmutz on my face. But I didn't feel comfortable asking anyone.
I looked on as the person in front of me greeted the Senator. I was next. There were three campaign staffers a few feet in front of Warren who were taking the photos. One of Warren's aides approached me and asked for my phone. I stepped onto the stage, my heart beating fast.
The Senator reached her hand out. I shook it. "Hi There!" She said warmly.
We started to turn towards the cameras for the photo. I hesitated, then said: "You inspired me to move to Iowa to work for you. I am so proud to be in this fight with you."
She put her hands across her chest. "That means so much. Thank You."
Me telling the Senator she inspired me to quit my job and move to Iowa
Me and the Senator posing for a "selfie"
We took the photos. She turned back to me, shook my hand one more time, and said: "We're gonna win this together."
It was a surreal moment.
Afterward, Warren spoke with the campaign staff, which had gathered in a semi-circle next to the stage. The Senator, like a coach addressing her team, looked ready to give a rousing speech (perhaps she was riding the high that comes from finishing two hours of selfies).
"You know what keeps me going day in and day out on this campaign? When I hear from folks about how good our staff is. Knowing that we have quality people. That we are in this together. That fuels me each and every day."
She spoke for five minutes about what these next 35 days mean for the campaign. She emphasized the importance of every conversation we have. She reminded us, proudly, that grassroots organizing has been the bedrock of the campaign. And she implored us to not lose sight of the big picture, and to remember why we joined the campaign.
The Senator raised her fist, told us to dream big and fight hard, and turned to leave, aides by her side. It was my first, but hopefully not last, encounter with Elizabeth Warren.