2000 Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses

The 2000 Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses occurred on January 24, and was the state caucuses of the Iowa Democratic Party. It was the first election for the Democrats of the 2000 presidential election.

Campaign
Vice President Al Gore was seen as the frontrunner for the nomination. Bill Bradley was seen as a non-threat. Al Gore campaigned in Des Moines, Iowa in May 1999. Bradley, knowing he was the outsider, campaigned tirelessly. Gore successfully painted Bradley as aloof and indifferent to the plight of farmers in rural America. The Vice President received the endorsement from the Governor of Iowa Tom Vilsack and Senator Tom Harkin and had a tremendous lead over Senator Bradley. But a devastating loss for the Gore camp was when Bradley got the endorsement of the Des Moines Register. Bradley started to gain momentum and the race become closer. A week before the caucus polls had it 40% to 49% in Gore’s favor. On January 23, 2000, a day before the primary polls had Al Gore winning by 2 or 3 points.

Caucus results
Caucus date: January 24, 2000

National pledged delegates determined: 47 (of 57) Al Gore won 91 of Iowa's 99 counties. Gore even beat Bradley in the Des Moines area. This Caucus had low voter turnout. Bill Bradley lost the rest of the primaries by large margins and Al Gore would eventually lose the general election to Governor of Texas George W. Bush.