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DES MOINES — He seemed at complete ease, shaking hands, posing for selfies and cracking tall guy jokes, as he laid out a plan for Democrats to take back the White House.

Perhaps Bill de Blasio’s comfort level was aided by familiarity: This was believed to be his fourth trip to Iowa since he became mayor of New York City in 2014.

It could have been the sparse crowd: Only about two dozen people braved blizzard-like conditions in Sioux City Saturday to attend the gathering organized by the Woodbury County Democrats, a traditional stop for presidential hopefuls.

On Sunday, Mr. de Blasio was warmly received at the Asian & Latino Coalition PAC in Des Moines, where 40 people gathered and applauded when he talked about money being in the “wrong hands.”