Democratic California Rep. Eric Swalwell failed to rile up the crowd with a catchphrase he rolled out during a Sunday speech at the Iowa Democrats' 2019 Hall of Fame.

"I will be bold," Swalwell asserted forcefully, before landing what he thought would be his memorable line. "Without the bull."

As the audience tittered with awkward laughter, Swalwell hesitated uncomfortably before moving on.

Swalwell's speech also touched upon his desire to mandate background checks for gun purchases and to implement a "buy-back program" for assault weapons.

Nineteen Democrats gathered in Cedar Rapids on Sunday in what was the largest event of the 2020 caucus so far. Around 1,500 activists and 200 media attended, according to the Des Moines Register.

Swalwell is among the several 2020 Democratic presidential candidates who are polling at 0%, according to the most recent Des Moines Register/Mediacom/CNN Iowa poll.