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| - The broadest US Democratic presidential field ever has been whittled down to 12 candidates scrambling for a strong showing in Iowa, the nomination race's first-in-the-nation vote on February 3. With no clear favorite in the heartland state, candidates have poured resources into Iowa hoping to catch a political spark that propels them to victory -- or at least a spot in the top three. Here are the candidates to watch ahead of Monday's Iowa caucuses: The US senator from Vermont has revised the political revolution that nearly won him the nomination in 2016. In the process, Sanders has pulled the Democratic Party leftward by spearheading groundbreaking liberal policies like universal health care and a $15 minimum wage. Despite raising more money than any Democrat, Sanders is the race's anti-establishment outsider, a self-described Democratic socialist crusading against "corporate greed." Sanders has spent much of the last two weeks stuck in Washington for Trump's Senate impeachment trial. Nevertheless his loyal support base has helped him surge in polling since January 20, and Sanders now leads in Iowa days before the caucuses. Age: 78 Iowa polling: 25.0 percent A former vice-president whose two previous White House bids flopped is the national frontrunner in 2020, and has been for the past year -- although the contest has narrowed. Biden boasts vast experience: three decades in the US Senate, eight years as popular president Barack Obama's wingman, and close working relationships with many world leaders. The party's moderate elder statesman, whose blue-collar appeal straddles political boundaries, credibly argues that he is best positioned to defeat Trump and reassert US prominence on the global stage. But he has not sealed the deal. Age: 77 Iowa polling average: 22.0 percent This millennial ex-mayor of South Bend, Indiana has had a remarkable presidential run by any standard. A national nobody one year ago, his support swelled as Iowans and others warmed to his articulate delivery and pragmatic, unifying message. He already checks several boxes: military veteran, government executive, and person of faith. Buttigieg is also the first major presidential candidate who is gay, and whether he can win over independents and frustrated Republicans remains an open question. Age: 38 Iowa polling: 17.0 percent Like Sanders, the other far-left candidate in the race is a senator from the northeast (Massachusetts) who decries Washington corruption. She says the Trump administration works to benefit corporations at the expense of working-class America. Warren, a Harvard law professor who entered politics as a consumer protection advocate, diverged from Sanders by labeling herself a capitalist, and the pair have engaged in testy personal attacks over the last month. She earned voter attention by unveiling a policy file thick with plans she would undertake as president, including a two-percent tax on the super wealthy. Age: 70 Iowa polling: 13.5 percent The remaining candidates have unlikely paths to victory in Iowa, but they are angling for late surges and breakout moments to vault them into contention. Leading the second tier is Senator Amy Klobuchar, whose recent strong debate performances have put her on the map, especially in Iowa which neighbors her home state, Minnesota. Moderate Klobuchar presents herself as a realist who can translate her bipartisan Senate accomplishments into White House success. Age: 59 Iowa polling: 8.5 percent Technology entrepreneur Andrew Yang's longshot campaign has proven surprisingly resilient. His core argument, that US companies automated away millions of manufacturing jobs and that Trump was elected because he spoke to people's fears about those losses, has turned heads. To cushion the blow from such change, Yang proposes providing every American adult with a monthly "freedom dividend" of $1,000. Age: 45 Iowa polling: 3.0 percent Looming in the background is billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg, New York's ex-mayor who entered the race last November. He eschewed campaigning in early states such as Iowa, instead focusing his efforts -- including a staggering $225 million in campaign advertising to date -- on the many states that vote on Super Tuesday, March 3. Age: 77 Iowa polling: 1.0 percent mlm/bgs/tom
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