By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A political science professor from Emporia State University sees the Democratic Presidential contest as staying with its structure of a front-runner and a challenger even after Tuesday's debate in Des Moines, Iowa ahead of the Iowa Caucuses next month.
"One of the dynamics at the debate last night was a lot of exchange between Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders," Michael Smith with Emporia State said. "This would fit that idea that we've got the standard bearer versus the progressive. Warren and Sanders are vying for that progressive. At times they spar, at times they seem friendly, but they're kind of dueling."
Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg and Joe Biden are holding down the moderate wing. Staying off of the stage and out of the fray thus far is Michael Bloomberg, who is funding his own campaign.
"Bloomberg is working hard on the outsider angle," Smith said. "He and Tom Steyer, of course, are billionaires. They're spending an enormous amount of money on TV advertising. I've seen both of their commercials. I bet a lot of people have."
Iowa is much more important to those trying to stay alive in the campaign than it is to those that have built support thus far.
"We've had a number of candidates withdraw just this week, citing polling numbers and running out of money," Smith said. "We are in that narrowing phase. We'll probably see a few more candidates withdraw. The conventional wisdom says that Joe Biden is going to do better on Super Tuesday than he will in Iowa and New Hampshire. If your name is not Joe Biden and you want to stay in the race, you need to do really, really, really well in Iowa and New Hampshire."
The Iowa Caucuses are Monday, February 3.