The first public spat of the 2020 Iowa caucus bubbled up on Saturday, as one declared candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination complained about not getting any national coverage and one as yet undeclared contestant, who has attracted plenty, promptly slapped him down.

In the blue corner, John Delaney, the Maryland businessman and congressman who declared his candidacy last year. In the other blue corner, Michael Avenatti, the California attorney for the porn star Stormy Daniels who is publicly flirting with a White House run.

On Friday evening Delaney tweeted a piece in the Quad-City Times, a paper based in Davenport, Iowa. It was, he said, “a good story about what’s actually happening in Iowa – not a story the national media would write because they are too busy chasing the latest cable news circus act”.

On Saturday morning, also on Twitter, Avenatti retorted: “New rule – any Dem[ocratic] candidate for president that whines about not getting enough press coverage or about other candidates getting too much coverage, should be immediately eliminated. We cannot be a party of whiners and hope to win what we need to win.”

Avenatti duly added his catchphrase, “#Basta”, which is Italian for “enough” and which he has used representing Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, as she claims an affair with Donald Trump which the president denies.

The Quad-City Times quoted a visitor at the recent Iowa State Fair, which the two men attended, as saying Delaney “seems like he’s a breath of fresh air”.

But it also discussed the Iowa Democratic Wing Ding, a fundraiser that attracts presidential hopefuls. Avenatti, the paper said, “boosted ticket sales and his presence overshadowed the other 2020 candidates, including Delaney”.

Both men engaged with Twitter users. To Delaney, one wrote: “Dude, you had a front page story in the @washingtonpost today. Trumpist attacks on the media are not the way to the nomination.”

Apparently referring to the Quad-City Times piece, Delaney replied: “Dude, this story covered what’s really happening.”

The Post piece was headlined: ‘In a polarised era, this 2020 presidential candidate is preaching pragmatism’. It noted that “hundreds of Democratic activists applauded Delaney at the party’s Wing Ding dinner at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake”.

But the Post also reported that the audience “cheered louder for Avenatti, many of them swarming him for selfies when he arrived” and “roared during his speech”.

“Before Avenatti finished speaking,” the piece continued, “Delaney was back on his bus, driving away”.

To Avenatti, another user referred to the midterm elections: “Dear Michael I like you, but we have the most important election EVER coming up on 11.06.18 can we please stay focused on that? Dems need to stay focused and unified. Thank you!”

Avenatti, who has pinned to his Twitter page a brief position paper entitled ‘What I Believe’, replied: “I am focused. Wednesday will be my fifth fundraiser in 16 days for Dems in three states. I am traveling the country helping Dems raise much needed money for November.”

Earlier, Avenatti wrote that he was “looking forward to helping Dems in Florida and New Hampshire this weekend raise much needed money for 2018 candidates. Will also return to Iowa next week for the same purpose. Critically important that we pick up seats and offices in November. #Basta.”

He also tweeted praise for Tim Ryan, a Wing Ding attendee who is also flirting with a 2020 run. Avenatti said the Ohio congressman was a “great guy who understands the issues facing working people every day. Solid.”

The 2020 Iowa caucuses, the first nomination contests of any presidential election, are 17 months away.