Iowa's capital, Des Moines, has been defined as the gray city in the US • But once every 4 years it opens the presidential race - and becomes fascinating • Democrats are preparing for a tense night
Boutage Props in Des Moines // Photo: IP
Des Moines is far from being the most vibrant capital out of the 50 capitals the US has to offer. It can, unpleasant to say, easily compete for the most boring city title in the US.
Oops, she already won that title when she was defined as the most gray city in the US.
But once every four years - Des Moines is paying close attention as it opens the presidential race, with such a unique electoral system: the electoral system.
Photo by Boaz Bismuth
It could very well be that the Democrats' strategy (the pursuit of the president) will only hurt them. On Wednesday, the Senate is expected to decide, and earlier on Tuesday, President Trump is expected to deliver his annual state of the nation speech. That is, the election in Iowa tonight will probably get a few hours of media coverage before the media gets back on Trump.
During the night (between Sunday and Sunday), the Super Bowl was supposed to be held in Florida, the final all America watches that also opened all new releases in America - and here's why only the sun smiled in Iowa yesterday.
"Israel Today" editor Boaz Bismuth
The percentage of voters is only about 15 percent of the population. If the young people really flock in droves as the polls predict - Sanders is likely to win a huge. If the relatively older ones vote at a high rate, Biden will enjoy the prom and maybe even win and get the momentum he so needs to move on. In any case, because of the unique method, there may be a candidate who comes out of nowhere to win second place (e.g. Amy Clocher or Pete Buttige). According to the state of affairs here, and this is only the beginning though, the 11 Democratic candidates (including Sanders, Biden and Warren) can't even undermine President Trump's situation.
The most interesting candidate of all
Pete Buttagej is perhaps the most interesting candidate in the race - because he was a former mayor, his military service in Afghanistan, and being a gay man and 38 years old - and his rally yesterday, was also the most mass and energetic event I have seen so far. It was at a Lincoln High School sports hall in Des Moines.
Pete Bottage
Kylie (21) was born in Ancona, Iowa, 20 minutes from Moyen. She is studying advertising at Drake University. "The students want Sanders because he offers them free education and the girls prefer Warren because she's a woman," she says, "but I think Trump will win here and in the general election because the economy is good. By 2020 ". For those who have forgotten, Iowa is a "purple" state, meaning its electorates are not guaranteed to any party. They went to Obama in the general election in 2008 and 2012, and then went to Trump in 2016 with a distinction no Republican since Reagan took.
"The students want Sanders." Kylie
But yesterday in Des Moines I managed to find a lively place. True: Waveland Cafe located at University Avenue. This typical American-style hit-and-run cafe, with its beautiful murals, serves the best breakfast in the country, they say. A pair of African-Americans sat in the bar. Iowa is an even white state than the snow piled outside - 91 percent white.
Jason, a young African-American, came in and sat down with me at the bar: "Of course I'll vote tomorrow. I'm independent. Tomorrow's Democrats will rival them, but in November Republicans will win here. If the election was today - Trump for Iowa is the president."
John, a local cowboy (every year he buys a new hat) snaps and tracks all the happenings. who will win? I ask John. "It's going to be tight. The amount of participants will decide." "Who will you vote for?" I ask, hesitating to answer. In the past, both Democrats and Republicans voted. "President Trump," states John. He will win in November, he insists.
Politics in the Chabad deli
A few meters from Wyland there is the Chabad "Deli", the Des Moines kosher restaurant, the Maccabim restaurant. I enter and three Jews, a couple and another young man from New York are dining. Suddenly another non-Jewish couple enters. Rabbi Joseph Isaac Jacob here welcomes me, he runs the place with his wife Hanni (Hannah) .Joseph came to Des Moines 28 years ago from Brooklyn, his wife being the daughter of the messenger in Argentina.
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Ya'akov and his wife Hani. "Tradition voters vote for Trump"
Joseph tells me that Iowa is a very conservative state. There are five Chabad houses and four emissaries under the state here. The number of Jews here is not very large. Only 4,000 of them 1,600 in Des Moines. Joseph is concerned about the extent of assimilation in the country he is responsible for. 80 to 85 percent of Jews marry non-Jews. Most Jews, he says, vote for Democrats. "Why?" I ask. "We're trying to find out," he laughs.
But Rabbi Yosef tells me that this is changing. "Traditionally Jews are starting to vote for Trump in droves. The US president, by the way, does not understand how Jews do not vote for him despite his support for Israel.
But something good is happening in Iowa. There is a Conservative and Reform community here, but David Kaufman, who is in charge of the Reform community, comes to buy products here. All the Jews are brothers. The reformers here are also protecting Israel. The Chabad rabbi here also has no doubt that Trump wins Iowa: "Trump easily wins Iowa both because of his support of Israel and because he opposes abortion. We belong to the Christian belt here."
"Sanders takes care of world repair"
Ariel Rubin, a Jew who lives in Des Moines told me he was voting for Sanders. "He is the only candidate who cares about equality and justice for everyone, and embodies the Jewish principle of world repair," he says.
Ariel Robin. "Sanders care about equality"
In the meantime, one thing can only be certain: many candidates have a real chance of winning here. They wasted millions of dollars and months of life to win Iowa and only 41 delegates.