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| ‘No Compromise,’ Democratic Hopefuls Say About Gun Control | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. said on Monday that there was no space to compromise with congressional Republicans on gun control legislation following the nation’s latest spate of mass shootings that left 53 dead in August. | |
| The only solution, Mr. Biden told reporters at a Labor Day event in Cedar Rapids, is to defeat Republicans in the elections 14 months away — “flat-out beat them,” as he put it. | |
| Mr. Biden, the Democratic front-runner, has made bipartisanship a theme of his campaign and talked about working with Republicans, including Senator Mitch McConnell. But Mr. Biden took the unequivocal stand on expanded background checks and other measures when asked if there was room to reach a compromise with Mr. McConnell, the Senate majority leader. | |
| “None, none on this. I think this is no compromise. This is one we have to just push and push and push and push and push,” he said. “The fact of the matter is, I think this is going to end with some of them defeated.” | |
| Mr. Biden was among several Democratic presidential candidates who demanded over the Labor Day weekend that congressional Republicans enact new background check legislation when Congress returns to work next week. | |
| At a town hall-style meeting on Sunday in Raymond, N.H., Senator Bernie Sanders bemoaned the “dysfunctionality of Congress” on gun control measures. And on Monday, several candidates took unbending stands on background checks while talking to reporters across Iowa and New Hampshire, as they sought out voters and news media cameras for the start of the fall campaign season. | |
| Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., who was also campaigning in Cedar Rapids on Monday, said background checks were already “a very middle of the road, rather conservative compromise,” and signaled that Democrats needed to stand firm on proposals for background checks, which are expected to be part of a gun control debate in Washington following the mass shootings in El Paso, Midland, and Odessa, Texas, and in Dayton, Ohio. | |
| “We’ve got to get out of a defensive crouch,” Mr. Buttigieg said of Democrats. “The overwhelming majority of the American people are with us, and the congressional G.O.P. can only reject the American people’s desires for so long before they’re going to pay a political penalty for that. | |
| “We’ve got to get something real out of this,” he said. | |
| Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who, like Mr. Biden and Mr. Buttigieg, holds a mix of progressive and moderate views, said background checks were “the minimum that we should do.” | |
| “Then we should go to something that will make the biggest difference for the mass shootings,” she said, such as a new assault weapons ban. | |
| With their remarks, the Democrats were seeking to add more pressure to President Trump, who indicated openness to background checks after the El Paso and Dayton shootings, and Mr. McConnell, who has promised a Senate debate this fall. The Democratic-led House has already passed background check legislation this year, but the National Rifle Association has pressured Mr. Trump and other Republican leaders to back off new steps on background checks. | |
| For the most part over the holiday long weekend, the Democratic candidates struck upbeat notes at events as they exchanged hearty handshakes and nice-to-meetchas and dropped by picnics and ice cream socials in Iowa and New Hampshire. | |
| There was relatively little sniping among the candidates. At his three events on Sunday, Mr. Sanders did not once mention his two top rivals, Mr. Biden and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, or any of his other competitors. The weekend had more of a laid-back feel: In Raymond, Mr. Sanders was joined by Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, who joked that a Sanders administration would guarantee “a pint in every freezer and a sundae in every bowl.” | |
| The 2020 Democratic nomination remains very much up for grabs heading into Labor Day week, which traditionally marks the start of a fall campaign season when presidential primary fields winnow and more voters start picking favorites. | The 2020 Democratic nomination remains very much up for grabs heading into Labor Day week, which traditionally marks the start of a fall campaign season when presidential primary fields winnow and more voters start picking favorites. |
| “These candidates have been going to the fairs and other events with ready-made crowds,” said Bret Nilles, an Iowa Democrat who leads the party in the Cedar Rapids area, after introducing Mr. Bennet at an event on Sunday. “Now it’s going to be up to them to see how big a crowd they can draw on their own.” | “These candidates have been going to the fairs and other events with ready-made crowds,” said Bret Nilles, an Iowa Democrat who leads the party in the Cedar Rapids area, after introducing Mr. Bennet at an event on Sunday. “Now it’s going to be up to them to see how big a crowd they can draw on their own.” |
| As the Democratic field stands now, 20 Democrats are still running, but only 10 of them are in strong enough shape to qualify for the next debate, on Sept. 12. | As the Democratic field stands now, 20 Democrats are still running, but only 10 of them are in strong enough shape to qualify for the next debate, on Sept. 12. |
| Of that group, just three candidates — Mr. Biden, Mr. Sanders and Ms. Warren — have consistently been in the double digits in recent polls. A fourth, Senator Kamala Harris, has dipped in some polls but has shown an ability to achieve breakout moments, as in her June debate performance, and remains a broadly appealing campaigner. Mr. Buttigieg and Senator Cory Booker are building out ground forces in Iowa, which votes first on Feb. 3, and Ms. Klobuchar is also making a push in that state. | Of that group, just three candidates — Mr. Biden, Mr. Sanders and Ms. Warren — have consistently been in the double digits in recent polls. A fourth, Senator Kamala Harris, has dipped in some polls but has shown an ability to achieve breakout moments, as in her June debate performance, and remains a broadly appealing campaigner. Mr. Buttigieg and Senator Cory Booker are building out ground forces in Iowa, which votes first on Feb. 3, and Ms. Klobuchar is also making a push in that state. |
| At the same time, the field’s shape at summer’s end looks not unlike it did at spring’s end. Mr. Biden entered the presidential race in late April as the Democratic front-runner; he remains in that position, having withstood summer challenges from second- and third-tier contenders. | At the same time, the field’s shape at summer’s end looks not unlike it did at spring’s end. Mr. Biden entered the presidential race in late April as the Democratic front-runner; he remains in that position, having withstood summer challenges from second- and third-tier contenders. |
| But Mr. Biden has yet to come under sustained attacks from his closest competitors at this point, Ms. Warren and Mr. Sanders, who have large numbers of deeply enthusiastic supporters. | But Mr. Biden has yet to come under sustained attacks from his closest competitors at this point, Ms. Warren and Mr. Sanders, who have large numbers of deeply enthusiastic supporters. |
| In Portland, Me., on Sunday night, Mr. Sanders drew cheers and shouts from hundreds of supporters and admirers like Frank Medrano, whose voice echoed off the walls of the State Theater in the exact cadence of an “amen” or “preach it” called out in a church. | In Portland, Me., on Sunday night, Mr. Sanders drew cheers and shouts from hundreds of supporters and admirers like Frank Medrano, whose voice echoed off the walls of the State Theater in the exact cadence of an “amen” or “preach it” called out in a church. |
| “I am here tonight, obviously, to ask for your very important support,” Mr. Sanders said. | “I am here tonight, obviously, to ask for your very important support,” Mr. Sanders said. |
| “You’ve got it!” Mr. Medrano bellowed. | “You’ve got it!” Mr. Medrano bellowed. |
| “We are going to take on the power structure of the United States of America,” Mr. Sanders said. | “We are going to take on the power structure of the United States of America,” Mr. Sanders said. |
| “Bring it!” | “Bring it!” |
| And, in a moment that made Mr. Sanders’s mouth twitch in what might have been a smile: “We love you, Bernie!” | And, in a moment that made Mr. Sanders’s mouth twitch in what might have been a smile: “We love you, Bernie!” |
| Mr. Medrano, 61, a retired actor living in Peaks Island, Me., seemed to be buzzing with adrenaline in an interview after Mr. Sanders’s rally. Though he said he liked some of Ms. Warren’s policies and admired her for setting up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, he described Mr. Sanders as the only candidate in the race who was truly “beholden to the people.” | Mr. Medrano, 61, a retired actor living in Peaks Island, Me., seemed to be buzzing with adrenaline in an interview after Mr. Sanders’s rally. Though he said he liked some of Ms. Warren’s policies and admired her for setting up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, he described Mr. Sanders as the only candidate in the race who was truly “beholden to the people.” |
| “I think to elect anyone else is a foolish venture,” he said. | “I think to elect anyone else is a foolish venture,” he said. |
| How Mr. Sanders, Mr. Biden and Ms. Warren compete and contrast themselves with one another is one of the biggest questions of the autumn phase of the campaign. That mini-contest among the leading candidates will also reveal whether there is enough oxygen for any of the 17 other hopefuls to catch fire in the five months before the Iowa caucuses. | How Mr. Sanders, Mr. Biden and Ms. Warren compete and contrast themselves with one another is one of the biggest questions of the autumn phase of the campaign. That mini-contest among the leading candidates will also reveal whether there is enough oxygen for any of the 17 other hopefuls to catch fire in the five months before the Iowa caucuses. |
| Mr. Biden’s summer has hardly been a smooth ride. Mr. Booker and Ms. Harris attacked his record on race. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand did so on gender issues, before dropping out last week. Mr. Buttigieg, who is 37 years old, has built his campaign on an unsubtle age contrast with Mr. Biden, who is 76. | Mr. Biden’s summer has hardly been a smooth ride. Mr. Booker and Ms. Harris attacked his record on race. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand did so on gender issues, before dropping out last week. Mr. Buttigieg, who is 37 years old, has built his campaign on an unsubtle age contrast with Mr. Biden, who is 76. |
| Yet more than four months after he opened his campaign, Mr. Biden remains the leader. Few of the Democratic county leaders and party activists who populate Iowa’s political class say they are thrilled with the former vice president, and many say there’s little enthusiasm for his candidacy, yet he remains atop almost all polls of Democrats, in Iowa and elsewhere. | Yet more than four months after he opened his campaign, Mr. Biden remains the leader. Few of the Democratic county leaders and party activists who populate Iowa’s political class say they are thrilled with the former vice president, and many say there’s little enthusiasm for his candidacy, yet he remains atop almost all polls of Democrats, in Iowa and elsewhere. |
| Still, a belief that Mr. Biden’s campaign will crater permeates the other presidential campaigns. Eventually, officials with rival campaigns say in private conversations, voters will find Mr. Biden an unsteady hand, his gaffes too risky in a contest with President Trump. | Still, a belief that Mr. Biden’s campaign will crater permeates the other presidential campaigns. Eventually, officials with rival campaigns say in private conversations, voters will find Mr. Biden an unsteady hand, his gaffes too risky in a contest with President Trump. |
| None of that has happened yet. | None of that has happened yet. |
| In two weeks, the top three candidates will appear on a debate stage for the first time when the top 10 Democrats gather in Houston. ABC’s moderators are certain to draw contrasts between Mr. Biden and Ms. Warren, who have clashed on economic issues across the last three decades. Mr. Sanders, though ideologically more similar to Ms. Warren, shares a base of lower-educated and lower-information voters in the Democratic contest with Mr. Biden. | In two weeks, the top three candidates will appear on a debate stage for the first time when the top 10 Democrats gather in Houston. ABC’s moderators are certain to draw contrasts between Mr. Biden and Ms. Warren, who have clashed on economic issues across the last three decades. Mr. Sanders, though ideologically more similar to Ms. Warren, shares a base of lower-educated and lower-information voters in the Democratic contest with Mr. Biden. |
| Amid this top-three dynamic, all of the Democratic presidential candidates will find themselves facing new competition for voters’ attention. | Amid this top-three dynamic, all of the Democratic presidential candidates will find themselves facing new competition for voters’ attention. |
| Gone are the state and county fairs, with hordes of would-be voters awaiting candidate speeches from soap boxes. | Gone are the state and county fairs, with hordes of would-be voters awaiting candidate speeches from soap boxes. |
| Instead, savvy campaigns are carefully bracketing the Sept. 12 debate with voter-rich events. Most candidates will speak this Saturday at the New Hampshire Democratic Party convention, which will be a magnet for party activists and organizers. Then, after the debate, some candidates are bound to be scheduling their weekend Iowa stops around the schedules of the University of Iowa and Iowa State University football teams. Expect to see a few candidates tailgating at the annual Hawkeye-Cyclone game Sept. 14 in Ames. | Instead, savvy campaigns are carefully bracketing the Sept. 12 debate with voter-rich events. Most candidates will speak this Saturday at the New Hampshire Democratic Party convention, which will be a magnet for party activists and organizers. Then, after the debate, some candidates are bound to be scheduling their weekend Iowa stops around the schedules of the University of Iowa and Iowa State University football teams. Expect to see a few candidates tailgating at the annual Hawkeye-Cyclone game Sept. 14 in Ames. |
| Reid J. Epstein reported from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Maggie Astor from New Hampshire and Maine. | Reid J. Epstein reported from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Maggie Astor from New Hampshire and Maine. |