Their ancestors came to this country from Slovenia to work in the mines — Harkin’s in the Iowa coal mines and Klobuchar’s in the Minnesota iron mines.

IOWA, MY SECOND HOME: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley visited the Iowa delegation Tuesday to, among other things, pay homage to the hosts of the first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses.

“I spent so much time in Iowa — it almost feels like home,” said Sanders, who spent 54 days in Iowa ahead of the Feb. 1 caucuses.

O’Malley, who spent 64 days in Iowa, said it was wonderful “to be with friends again” and called Iowans “salt-of-the- earth people — you’re what America is all about.”

“I feel like Iowa is my second home,” he said. “The towns and the places and the people of Iowa will always be very, very dear to my heart and the hearts of my family. I have so many stories and so many good friends.”

MIDWEST PRIDE: Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar sought to assure Iowa Democrats that they can have confidence in Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton’s running mate.