Andrew Yang holds final caucus rally in Des Moines Saturday, calls for Iowans to volunteer, caucus

When Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang took the stage in Des Moines Saturday night at his "final caucus rally," he said he recognized many of the people in the room. But not all of them were Iowans.

"I see some familiar faces in the crowd, I see people who have come from all around the country," he said. "... There have been over 3,000 people who have come from out-of-state to come knock on doors here in Iowa, and I appreciate all of you."

Nearing the end of a 17-day bus tour across Iowa leading up to the caucuses Monday, Yang held a final caucus rally at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown Saturday night. Over 1,200 people attended, according to campaign estimates: Roughly 800 people were in the room, and more stood outside the room listening.

“We are past the fire code!” Mike French, a Yang field organizer told the crowd, who cheered in response.

Organizers emphasized that the momentum couldn't stop at the rally: They asked people in the room to stand up if they were willing to go door-to-door knocking in Iowa Sunday, and asked Iowans to raise their hands if they were willing to volunteer or become precinct captains for Yang.

"We need to get people from undecided to Yang Gang," French said. "And you all are going to be a part of that."

Before Yang addressed the room, the team played a video on "how to caucus," teaching people in the room how a caucus works and how to find Yang's corner at a caucus site. The campaign also played a political advertisement showing the candidate's journey through Iowa — going from him talking to people door-to-door who had never heard his name to holding large events throughout the state.

It was a helpful guide for supporters, many of whom would be first-time caucusgoers. Andrea Kalvig, a 38-year-old mother from Waukee, said Monday will be the first time she participates in the caucuses.

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Yang is the only candidate who speaks to the issues she's concerned about — seeing her own job get increasingly automated and looking to the future for her three children, she said. That got her and many others who feel left out of the political process involved in Yang's campaign, she said.

"He's the first candidate I'm excited to support," Kalvig said. "Usually I'm just choosing between the lesser of two evils. I've never wanted to volunteer for anything before ... But for Yang, I'm throwing my support behind him every second that I can, every spare moment that I have, and I think a lot of other people are doing the same."

But not all supporters are so optimistic. Ted Taber, a 34-year-old from Dubuque, said Yang is his first choice. But he was undecided for his second choice until two days ago. After a 25-minute conversation with a canvasser, he said he plans to caucus for U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar if Yang isn't viable in his precinct.

"I have no idea what's going to happen," Taber said. "I don't know which candidates will be viable, or if any candidate is going to get over 30% of the vote. But all I care about at the end of the day is getting Donald Trump out of office."

Yang has lured some Trump voters away from the Republican party and speaks to some of the same issues the president talked about in 2016. But Yang said he has "real solutions."

"That's the work we have to do, Iowa," Yang said. "I'm the man to beat Donald Trump, and the last people that are going to realize it are going to be the Democrats who've been looking for the best candidate to take him on. But I think more and more are realizing that they're looking at him right now."