Rick Williams in Iowa: The final push

Rick Williams Image
Friday, January 29, 2016
VIDEO: Iowa caucuses
It's the last weekend before the Iowa caucus, and candidates in both parties are making a last minute push for votes.

DES MOINES, Iowa (WPVI) -- At a pub in West Des Moines we joined hundreds of people who wanted to hear from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

It was a busy day of campaigning for the governor, but this was his last stop with just hours to go before the Iowa caucus.

And despite the latest poll numbers, Gov. Christie sounded optimistic.

"We're gonna be out of your hair come tomorrow at least until August.

"Then we'll be back as the Republican nominee working hard to win the swing state of Iowa to make sure that the Republican Party is restored to the White House and sanity is restored to the United States of America," said Christie.

Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner, held one afternoon rally in Council Bluffs.

There he bragged about his lead in the polls, and even acknowledged the one category where he's not doing so well.

"The only thing I wasn't No. 1 on - personality. Can you believe it?

"They said I'm not a nice person, and I'm a nicer person than of all of them," said Trump.

Much like on Saturday, Marco Rubio focused less on his republican challengers than on the democrats and the current administration.

"Because I will swear before my creator and the eyes of this nation to protect and defend and uphold the Constitution of the United States, and unlike Barack Obama I will actually mean it," said Rubio.

It was a similar tone from Ted Cruz.

Even though he's polling behind Trump, he whipped up the excitement in a Iowa City crowd with promises of taking the White House.

"All across the state of Iowa, all across this country people are waking up, and I'm here to tell you help is on the way," said Cruz.

Bernie Sanders ended his day in Waterloo.

Analysts say he will benefit most by a large turnout of first time voters, and he says he's confident they will be there.

"Our message and our energy will drive a very large voter turnout, which will mean not only we retain the White House, we regain the Senate, we win governor's chairs all over this country," said Sanders.

And Hillary Clinton made several stops, including this one in Sioux City, called the Get Out The Caucus Event.

"Please go out and caucus tomorrow night. The storm is not coming 'til after midnight," said Clinton. "Plenty of time to caucus. We'll get all the votes counted."

More from Rick Williams in Iowa:

It's the last weekend before the Iowa caucus, and candidates in both parties are making a last minute push for votes.
Certainly all of the candidates have invested time, money and energy into the State of Iowa simply because it's first.
It's the last weekend before the Iowa caucus, and candidates in both parties are making a last minute push for votes.
Drake University has hosted more political-related events this presidential campaign season than perhaps any other college in the state of Iowa.
This map shows just how much ground the republican candidates are covering not even 24 hours after their debate in Des Moines, Iowa - all exceptTrump.
It?s the last weekend before the Iowa caucus, and candidates in both parties are making a last minute push for votes.