Mediaboss Marketing

Democrats in Iowa have a message for Hillary Clinton on the eve of her visit to the state: youre not our candidate yet.

The former secretary of state may be viewed by the political establishment as the all-but-certain Democratic nominee for the White House. But Democratic operatives and activists are pushing back at that sense of inevitability.

Related: Exclusive: Hillary Clinton to launch 2016 campaign on Sunday en route to Iowa

They insist that Clinton, who will formally launch her campaign to be the Democratic nominee as the clear frontrunner on Sunday, has a great many hands to shake in the state before she can count on Iowas support.

She needs to try and convince us shes not just the anointed one, said John Sprole, a 66-year-old attorney who was volunteering at a Democratic awards dinner in Polk County on Friday.

Like nearly every other Democrat in Iowa interviewed by the Guardian over the last 48 hours, Sprole said he was undecided over who should be the partys presidential candidate. But was hungry for a debate.

That sentiment was repeated by Democrats time and again at local party events in the state: activists want a contest, and feel they are missing out on the healthy debate that is well under way among Republicans. There is no clear frontrunner in the GOP race, where a crowded field of potential candidates are battling over ideas and philosophy.

The Clinton campaign is determined to avoid any appearance that the former New York senator is taking Iowa for granted.

Clintons dramatic defeat to Barack Obama in the 2008 Iowa caucus dealt a huge blow to her presidential prospects. Many blamed a neglect of the state and alleged failure to connect with Iowans on a one-on-one basis.

This time will be different. Clintons first trip as 2016 presidential candidate will be to Iowa; one source familiar with the campaign told the Guardian Clinton could fly to the first-in-the-nation state as soon as Sunday.

See the rest here:
'Convince us you're not just the anointed one': Iowa waits for Hillary