CEDAR RAPIDS, Ia. — Wrapped in a kelly green coat and scarf, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar zigzagged the streets of Cedar Rapids at Sunday's 44th annual SaPaDaPaSo St. Patrick's Day parade.

As a group of about two dozen local Democrats threw handfuls of Tootsie Rolls to eager kids lining the downtown route, Klobuchar bounced from curb to curb, sometimes jogging to catch back up with the group after shaking hands with voters.

The holiday sparks memories of green birthday cakes and carnations for Klobuchar, whose late mother, Rose, celebrated a March 17 birthday.

"It was always part of my life that I thought was cool, growing up — that my mom was born on St. Patrick's Day," she said.

"At first, my grandma was going to name her Patricia, but then this nurse that my grandma wasn't that fond of said that was her favorite name," Klobuchar told reporters before the parade. "And then she changed her name to Rose, after 'My Wild Irish Rose.'"

Linn County Democrats and local lawmakers, including Hiawatha Democrat Sen. Liz Mathis, Cedar Rapids Democrats Sen. Rob Hogg and Rep. Molly Donahue, huddled around a white minivan tacked with local and national candidate signs. Before the Minnesota senator arrived at about 1 p.m., the group made sandwiches and passed out "Amy for America" T-shirts, buttons and stickers.

► More:In Des Moines, Sen. Amy Klobuchar says she's an underdog with a grassroots path to the top

One local supporter said she would've stayed home if it weren't for Klobuchar's guest appearance. Mary White, who lives in rural Linn County, said that in Iowa, it's important to put in work for candidates early.

"If you have a strong feeling one way or another, you have to get out and support them now, before the caucuses," White, 63, said. The registered nurse said that if she had to vote today, Klobuchar would be her first choice.

"If her biggest fault is that she is tough on her staff, that's great — she's not out running for cotton candy seller," White said.

Three percent of Iowans, like White, currently call Klobuchar their first choice, according to a recent Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll.

► More:Caucus 2020: 5 takeaways from the Des Moines Register's latest Iowa Poll

Mathis said Klobuchar is one of several candidates who's briefly met with state Democrats. Unlike other candidates who gave broad stump speeches, Klobuchar "got deeper and said things that were new to us," Mathis said.

"For me, I'm a policy wonk, so that was attractive to me," Mathis said, stopping short of endorsing anyone.

Mathis led the pack of Linn County Democrats for most of the parade, telling onlookers that "Amy Klobuchar is here, and she's running for president!"

Following close behind was John Swanson, who moved to Cedar Rapids from Chicago in 1970. The 72-year-old met his wife, started a family and eventually took an interest in politics, voting for both parties throughout the years. Describing himself as "just left of center," he said he caucused for the first time in 2016 for Hillary Clinton.

Klobuchar's performance during a CNN town hall-style interview first sparked his interest, he said, and his support has only grown since learning more about her bipartisan record.

"That's what's it going to take," said Swanson, a retired Kirkwood Community College administrator. "It's about finding common ground and being able to extend an olive branch so we can figure out a way to get things done." He said the reaction to reported allegations that she has mistreated her staff is "a bunch of brouhaha."

► More:Amy Klobuchar announces more Iowa staffers ahead of weekend visit

As Klobuchar shook hands with people standing at the parade's endpoint, 30-year-old Andrea Edwards stopped her with a specific question. Edwards works at a county-run low-income preschool and volunteers for the Save the Children Action Network.

"I wanted to make sure she understands the importance of (early childhood development)," said Edwards, who said she is not affiliated with any political party. "She said she agreed with me about the importance of that zero to 5-year-old age group, and said she's had some involvement in that area. But she didn't really specify what that was, so I'll have to look into it."

The parade marked an hour-long pause in the weekend whirlwind of campaigning throughout the state. Saturday, national media followed Klobuchar and other candidates through Waterloo as they campaigned for Eric Giddens, who’s running in Tuesday's special election for state Senate District 30. After the parade, Klobuchar dashed to Davenport for her sixth and final official event of the weekend.

Mathis said the parade was not only a fun respite, but a smart strategic move.

"She's getting to know us, and getting a lot of name recognition from these folks at the same time," she said.

Iowa Caucuses Candidate Tracker | DesMoinesRegister.com