In addition to liking Sanders’ economic positions, Cox said Sanders is right on war issues.

“Pres. Obama and Hillary Clinton, too, if she’s elected, will continue the drone wars and assassinations of American citizens, prison camps that hold people indefinitely and without due process,” Cox said.

Although Iowa’s first-in-the-nation precinct caucuses aren’t scheduled until February 2016, Cox said it’s not too early to start thinking about a nominee. Other campaigns have been active, he said, noting a Get Ready for Hillary event in Des Moines earlier this year. Democrats who are being mentioned as 2016 candidates have visited, too.

SANDERS HAS FUELED speculation he’ll run for the Democratic nomination because he’s been giving speeches in the South and New Hampshire. In a recent Slate WeigelCast interview, Sanders didn’t commit to running, but said he’s prepared to address the major issues.

“We need people standing up for the working class and the middle class of this country, people prepared to take on the big money interests who dominate our economic and politic life,” he told David Weigel. “I am prepared to do that. I don’t think I’m not the only person prepared to do that. But it is something that I’m giving consideration to.”