Klobuchar campaigns in Hampton

Winter weather couldn't keep the crowd away as Hampton residents gathered at La Frontera Restaurant on Tuesday, Nov. 26 to meet Sen. Amy Klobuchar, one of the Democratic primary candidates running to be named the nominee for the 2020 Presidential Election.

"You give a whole new meaning to intrepid," said Klobuchar as she thanked the crowd for braving the snowy conditions.

Klobuchar herself is no stranger to winter snow. As the senior senator from Minnesota, Klobuchar enjoys a bit of a home field advantage compared to some of her costal contemporaries. Her duties as a member of the Senate's agricultural committee often bring her back home to the Midwest to work on farm related issues.

"I really know a lot of the issues here," said Klobuchar.

Currently polling at 2.2, according to the RealClear Politics average, Klobuchar has a long way to go before she can claim the same national recognition as frontrunners Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren. To that end, she has doubled her efforts in Iowa in the hopes of capitalizing on the boost from her debate performance. Elected as Minnesota's first woman Senator in 2006, Klobuchar boasts a track record of winning difficult races by courting voters from across the political spectrum and encouraging strong turnout from supporters.

"Every time I run, the Minnesota House goes back to Democrats," said Klobuchar.

It's this trend that Klobuchar hopes to apply at a national level, hoping to see not just a Democrat in the White House in 2021, but one backed by a Democratic controlled House and Senate.

"Then we're going to see these things get done," said Klobuchar. "There's going to be a consensus behind the new president."

Like all presidential candidates, Klobuchar has her own takes on the major issues of the day. For healthcare, Klobuchar would like to see a non-profit public option to provide health coverage, but would more heavily prioritize other measures to bring health costs down. Particularly reigning in the pharmaceutical industry with negotiations and price caps.

"There are so many other things we should be talking about that would make a bigger difference," said Klobuchar.

Renewing programs to support mental health, addiction treatment, and long term care are also high priorities, particularly for rural areas where communities are underserved for these needs.

On climate change, Klobuchar recognizes climate change as an issue that will demand action from the next President and efforts from the global community working together.

"It's a scientific challenge for us, but it's something we are up to," said Klobuchar.

Part of this challenge includes continued support for the growth bio-fuels and other renewable energy sources, which would have a major impact on rural areas that have invested in those fields.

"I think we should be investing in farmers in the Midwest rather than the oil cartels," said Klobuchar.

On education, Klobuchar wouldn't go so far as to support publicly funded tuition for four year degrees as some of her peers have proposed, but does support publicly funded two-year programs and trade courses to guide people towards needed vocations.

"We aren't going to have a shortage of MBAs," said Klobuchar. "What we are going to have is a shortage of electricians and plumbers."

Of course, as a member of the United States Senate, Klobuchar is closely following the House of Representative's ongoing impeachment hearings into President Donald Trump. If the House passes articles of impeachment against the President, Klobuchar will be among the Senators that will determine his fate.

President Trump is accused of withholding congressionally approved military aid from Ukraine and using it as leverage to coerce Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky into announcing an investigation into former Vice-President Joe Biden, the current Democratic frontrunner.

For Klobuchar, these actions invoked comparison with President Richard Nixon, who famously resigned before he could be impeached for his involvement with a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate Hotel.

"He was up for election, he was paranoid, and he wanted to get dirt on his opponent," said Klobuchar. "In this case, it was a global Watergate."

After a Q&A session with the audience, Klobuchar spent some time answering questions one-on-one with people, hoping to embed support before the upcoming Iowa caucus. Her next stop in Iowa was to Mason City before heading for Des Moines on Thursday to serve Thanksgiving meals at the South Des Moines Community Center.

"She was good," said Scott Sackville, who attended the La Frontera event. "She seemed like she's super on top of things."

Sackville was impressed with Klobuchar, but not yet ready to commit to a single candidate, saying it was still too early in the primary to go all in on a single candidate.

"I think she's a good strong candidate," said Catherine Crooks, chairperson for the Franklin County Democrats. "She's proven she can win in Republican areas."