Nearly $1 billion was spent on political advertising in 2019, according to new figures from ad-tracking firm Advertising Analytics.

Of the $998.4 million spent on political advertising, $351 million was spent on the presidential primaries, the firm said on Friday.

Former New York City Mayor Michael BloombergMichael BloombergEngel scrambles to fend off primary challenge from left It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process Liberals embrace super PACs they once shunned MORE was the biggest spender, buying about $124 million in ads since joining the Democratic presidential race last month.

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Advertising Analytics CEO Kyle Roberts said in an interview with The Hill that it’s unusual to have these kinds of spending levels at this point heading into a presidential election year. He added that even without Bloomberg the dollar amounts are “still higher” than the 2016 primary.

“You have more low dollar donors consistently giving over a period of time, which results in larger overall dollars raised,” he said.

Businessman Tom Steyer was second behind Bloomberg, purchasing nearly $84 million in ads.

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Trump Make America Great Again Committee had spent more than $23 million, and the Trump campaign spent nearly $14 million.

Other top advertising spenders included the Buttigieg, Sanders and Warren campaigns, which spent nearly $20 million, nearly $18 million and nearly $12 million respectively. 

Politico reported this week that businessman Tom SteyerTom SteyerBloomberg wages war on COVID-19, but will he abandon his war on coal? Overnight Energy: 600K clean energy jobs lost during pandemic, report finds | Democrats target diseases spread by wildlife | Energy Dept. to buy 1M barrels of oil Ocasio-Cortez, Schiff team up to boost youth voter turnout MORE was second behind Bloomberg, purchasing $83 million in ads.

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For 2019, the top overall market was Washington, D.C., where $485 million was spent on political advertising.

Advertising Analytics predicted that $6 billion will be spent in political ads during the 2020 cycle.

Updated: 9:12 p.m.

Former New York City Mayor Michael BloombergMichael BloombergEngel scrambles to fend off primary challenge from left It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process Liberals embrace super PACs they once shunned MORE said on Monday that he does not regret supporting the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. 

“I don’t live in a regret world, and I didn’t make the decision,” the Democratic presidential hopeful said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

The former mayor added that the individuals who supported the invasion were led on by faulty intelligence from the George W. Bush administration. 

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“America wanted to go to war, but it turns out it was based on faulty intelligence, and it was a mistake,” Bloomberg said. “But I think the people that made the mistake did it honestly, and it’s a shame, because it’s left us entangled, and it’s left the Middle East in chaos through today.”

Bloomberg’s comments come as foreign policy has taken center stage in the Democratic presidential primary amid the fallout over a U.S. done strike that killed top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani. 

Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) has hit former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE for his 2002 vote in support of the invasion, saying it led to U.S. involvement in an “endless war.” 

“Joe Biden voted and helped lead the effort for the war in Iraq, the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in the modern history of this country,” Sanders said Monday on CNN.

However, Biden has touted his vast foreign policy experience spanning from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to the Obama administration. 

“I served in the executive branch of our government for eight years, but I served in the legislative branch for 36 prior to that—and I understand better than anyone that the system will not hold unless we find ways to work together to advance our national interests—not the political interests of one person or one party,” Biden said, according to released excerpts from an address he is slated to give in New York on Tuesday. 

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Sens. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.) appear to be at war after a long-standing detente, unnerving liberals who hoped to see a progressive win the party’s nomination and fear the clash could hurt both presidential candidates.

Tensions between the Sanders and Warren camps were already rising, but they boiled over ahead of a pivotal Tuesday night debate in Des Moines, Iowa, after CNN reported that Sanders told Warren at a meeting in 2018 that a woman could not be elected president.

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Sanders vehemently denies the story, which came from four anonymous sources close to Warren.

Warren, in a statement released late Monday, said Sanders did make the remark, but she also sought to cool tensions.

“I thought a woman could win; he disagreed. I have no interest in discussing this private meeting any further because Bernie and I have far more in common than our differences on punditry,” she said.

The back and forth comes on the heels of a weekend dust-up between the two candidates after a report that Sanders’s volunteers had been instructed to tell voters that Warren would be a weak general election candidate because she only appeals to wealthy, white liberals.

Those developments appear to spell the end of a long-standing truce between Sanders and Warren, who are running first and second in the latest Des Moines Register poll of Iowa with the caucuses only weeks away.

Liberal Democrats, some of whom would be happy with either Sanders or Warren winning the nomination, are fearful that the attacks between the two will pave the way for a centrist candidate, such as former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE or former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE, to win in Iowa.

The progressive group Democracy for America released a statement on Monday calling on Sanders and Warren to stand down.

“Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, you both are progressive champions and our movement needs to see you working together to defeat your corporate Democratic opponents – not attack each other,” the statement said. “Progressives will win in 2020, but only if we don’t let the corporate wing or [President] Trump divide us.”

The CNN report about Sanders’s alleged sexist remark was a dramatic escalation after a year of campaigning in which the candidates and their campaigns refused to go after one another.

Sanders released a statement strongly denying that he had ever told Warren that a woman could not be elected president. The Vermont senator, who has at times singled out CNN and other mainstream outlets over their coverage of his campaign, called the report “ludicrous.”

“It’s sad that, three weeks before the Iowa caucus and a year after that private conversation, staff who weren’t in the room are lying about what happened,” he said. “What I did say that night was that Donald TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE is a sexist, a racist and a liar who would weaponize whatever he could. Do I believe a woman can win in 2020? Of course! After all, Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE beat Donald Trump by 3 million votes in 2016.”

Sanders’s supporters are furious over what they view as a desperate attempt by the media and Warren staffers to blunt his momentum in the race.

Politico reported over the weekend that the Sanders campaign quietly instructed volunteers to tell undecided voters that Warren would be a weak general election candidate because her appeal is limited to “highly educated, more affluent people who are going to show up and vote Democratic no matter what.”

According to the talking points, the volunteers were instructed to tell voters that Warren is “bringing no new bases into the Democratic Party.”

Warren fired back directly at Sanders, saying she was “disappointed to hear that Bernie is sending his volunteers out to trash me.”

“Bernie knows me and has known me for a long time,” Warren said. “He knows who I am, where I come from, what I have worked on and fought for and the coalition and grassroots movement we are trying to build. Democrats want to win in 2020. We all saw the impact of the factionalism in 2016 and we can’t have a repeat of that.”

“I hope Bernie reconsiders and turns his campaign in a different direction,” Warren added.

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Sanders sought to distance himself from the report.

“We have over 500 people on our campaign,” he said. “People do certain things. I’m sure that on Elizabeth’s campaign people do certain things as well.

“But you’ve heard me for months, I have never said a negative word about Elizabeth Warren, who is a friend of mine. We have differences on issues. That’s what a campaign is about.”

Some progressives believe the tension between the two candidates is being overblown.

Neither candidate has directly attacked the other. The back-and-forth has largely played out among their supporters and surrogates on social media or through leaks in the media.

“Overblown,” said Jonathan Tasini, a progressive strategist who backs Sanders. “I don’t think most voters even tuned into a spat between Twitter advocates for each candidate.”

Still, Tasini and others are warning against a full-scale war between Sanders and Warren, saying it would be detrimental to the progressive cause and potentially boost a centrist, such as Biden or Buttigieg, to victory in Iowa.

“I would only caution partisans to remember the 2004 Iowa run-up when Dick Gephardt and Howard Dean tangled over the stretch run, repelling enough voters to allow John KerryJohn Forbes KerryThe Memo: Trump’s troubles deepen as voters see country on wrong path The continuous whipsawing of climate change policy Budowsky: United Democrats and Biden’s New Deal MORE to win the caucuses,” Tasini said. “That should be a warning sign this cycle, especially with such a large percentage of voters saying they are open to switching or haven’t made up their minds, that you do not want to be the camp seen, fairly or unfairly, as tossing a lit match into a gasoline-soaked bonfire.”

Biden allies are licking their chops.

“Is there a popcorn-eating emoji?” one ally said on Monday.

But some Democrats say the showdown between the progressive powerhouses has been a long time coming as they seek support from the same pool of liberals with the caucuses headed for an apparent photo finish.

“I think you can look at the kerfuffle between Sens. Warren and Sanders as both inevitable given the electoral calendar and as a reminder that politics and friendship are a tough combination,” said Democratic strategist Lynda Tran. “Politics is always … an exercise in comparisons. There has been endless analysis to date suggesting the policy differences between the two senators are small. Clearly [Sanders’s] team has decided drawing a contrast is critical to shoring up his numbers.”

Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) touted his Thursday vote against President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE’s North American trade deal that was supported by several of the other candidates for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.

Sanders was the sole senator running in the Democratic presidential primary to vote against the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which passed the Senate on Thursday by a vote of 89-10. The deal, which replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement, passed the Democratic-controlled House by a vote of 385-41 in December.

“As one of the only candidates opposing Trump’s trade deal, I want to thank Sen. @ChuckSchumer [D-N.Y.] for joining this fight,” Sanders said in a Thursday tweet praising the Senate minority leader’s vote against USMCA.

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“USMCA will make climate change worse. We will do better when I’m president.”

As one of the only candidates opposing Trump’s trade deal, I want to thank Sen. @ChuckSchumer for joining this fight. USMCA will make climate change worse. We will do better when I’m president. https://t.co/b4ebWyh9rr

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) January 16, 2020

Trump secured strong Democratic support for the agreement by including stronger labor law enforcement measures, scrapping protections on high-cost pharmaceuticals, and other provisions meant to protect American workers.

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The changes were enough to win over several of Trump’s Democratic challengers who’ve opposed prior trade deals, including Sens. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (Mass.), Amy KlobucharAmy KlobucharHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Democrats demand Republican leaders examine election challenges after Georgia voting chaos Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (Minn.) and Michael BennetMichael Farrand BennetSome realistic solutions for income inequality Democratic senators kneel during moment of silence for George Floyd 21 senators urge Pentagon against military use to curb nationwide protests MORE (Colo.).

Warren, like other progressives backing USMCA, called the deal a solid step toward rewriting trade agreements to empower workers.

“We need a different approach to trade and it starts with the corruption of the giant corporations,” Warren said during Tuesday night’s Democratic primary debate.

But Sanders joined eight Democrats, including Schumer, in opposition to the agreement over a lack of environmental safeguards and insufficient measures to stop the outsourcing of U.S. jobs.

“We need to fundamentally rewrite our disastrous trade agreements and create and protect good-paying American jobs,” Sanders said Wednesday in remarks on the Senate floor.

Sanders’s opposition to USMCA draws a key distinction between himself and Warren, his chief rival for progressive primary voters, with less than three weeks until the Iowa caucuses. While Sanders and Warren are ideologically aligned on most issues, Sanders has sought to distinguish himself as the most progressive candidate running to unseat Trump.

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Sanders’s vote also provoked a rebuke from Trump’s reelection campaign, elevating the senators’ opposition.

“Socialist Bernie Sanders just proudly voted AGAINST new jobs and higher wages for Americans workers,” the Trump campaign wrote in an email to supporters. 

“Sanders is willing to sacrifice blue-collar jobs and better wages, even as he enjoys flying fossil fuel burning private jets on an almost daily basis,” the email continued. 

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The outrage over the “golfgate” scandal is in Ireland, but the decision on whether it claims a European Commission scalp rests with Brussels.

In Ireland, pressure mounted over the weekend for Phil Hogan to resign from his role as EU trade commissioner after he attended a packed golfing soirée along with other members of Ireland’s political elite in breach of strict rules on social events.

The parliamentary golf society dinner brought together over 80 people at a time when indoor gatherings were restricted under new coronavirus rules to a maximum of six. That has caused an uproar in Ireland, with two senior Irish politicians, including the agriculture minister, forced to resign.

Both Micheál Martin, the prime minister, and Leo Varadkar, the deputy prime minister, spoke to Hogan and asked him to “consider his position” on Saturday, according to a government spokesperson. That prompted a Twitter apology from Hogan, who acknowledged that his actions had “touched a nerve with the people of Ireland.”

But despite the toxic fallout at home and a political shove from Dublin, the trade commissioner is not budging. That’s because the levers to remove a sitting commissioner are not in Ireland — or any other EU member country — but in Brussels.

As an EU official, Hogan is required to “behave with integrity and discretion” during and after his mandate, observe “the highest standards of ethical conduct,” and “respect the dignity of their office,” according to provisions included in the code of conduct of EU commissioners. But while the code is relatively explicit on matters of financial conflicts of interest and outside jobs, there is little guidance on the kind of national political firestorm that Hogan has landed himself in.

Under the heading “Political Role,” the code states that “Commissioners play an important political role. They have political responsibility and are accountable to the European Parliament.”

Kathleen Van Brempt, a Belgian MEP and member of the international trade committee, said the European Parliament had not yet discussed “golfgate” and MEPs like her would need to understand if Hogan “overstepped the rules” or “acted out of recklessness.”

“But in any case, anyone including myself must restrain to go to public events,” Van Brempt said. “If you want to meet, just go online. As a politician, you have to set the example.”

But even if a head of steam builds in the Parliament for Hogan to go, MEPs do not possess a mechanism to actually prize the trade commissioner out of a job. They can put pressure on his boss, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to cut him loose or they can censure and dismiss the Commission as a whole.

Another theoretical option is compulsory retirement. EU legislation states that “if [the commissioner] has been guilty of serious misconduct, the Court of Justice may, on application by the Council acting by a simple majority or the Commission, compulsorily retire him.” But while the anger in Ireland over Hogan’s actions is real, “serious misconduct” is a high bar to meet.

The only mechanism for Hogan’s potential removal then is the judgment of von der Leyen herself. As the legislation states: “A member of the Commission shall resign if the President so requests. “

On Monday, Dana Spinant, the Commission’s deputy chief spokeswoman, said von der Leyen had received a “full report” from Hogan on the circumstances of the dinner. She said the president has asked for “further clarifications” because “details are important.”

“It is important of course for the president that rules are respected,” Spinant said. “It is also important for the president to be fair, so this is why it is essential that all facts are being provided … This is a matter of not just respecting the rules but this is also a matter of public health, there are legal aspects involved and there are moral aspects involved as well.”

In truth, von der Leyen has broad latitude to interpret the rules as she sees fit and precedent suggests that much worse behavior would have to emerge for Hogan to be forced out.

Only one commissioner has previously stepped down in such circumstances. That was Malta’s John Dalli in 2012, following allegations that the tobacco industry sought to bribe him. (He later claimed he was forced to resign but the General Court of the EU ruled he had gone of his own accord.) Few would put Hogan’s conduct in the same category.

Another example hints at the scale of wrongdoing necessary to lose a seat at the College of Commissioners’ table. A POLITICO investigation in 2015 revealed that nearly half of then EU Regional Policy Commissioner Corina Creţu’s closest staff resigned in 12 months over concerns about her light work schedule as well as her tendency to combine official trips with leisure travel and to ask staff to perform personal tasks. She kept her job in Jean-Claude Juncker’s Commission.

“Being so open-ended and left to the interpretation of the sole president of the Commission, this provision lends itself to be applied through a political lens,” said Alberto Alemanno, an EU law professor at Paris management school HEC.

“[This shows] the outer limits of an EU ethics system that shields — as opposed to sanctions — morally questionable behavior when those take place in a commissioner’s country of origin,” Alemanno said. He added that an overhaul of the Commission’s ethics rules was overdue — including the creation of an independent ethics body to preside over such cases.

In the absence of such independent pressure, though, von der Leyen will likely make her call based on the political temperature in Brussels. Hogan may have touched a nerve in Ireland, but he will hope that the political impulses from “golfgate” leave most of Brussels unmoved.

Want more analysis from POLITICO? POLITICO Pro is our premium intelligence service for professionals. From financial services to trade, technology, cybersecurity and more, Pro delivers real time intelligence, deep insight and breaking scoops you need to keep one step ahead. Email [email protected] to request a complimentary trial.

Iowa Sen. Joni ErnstJoni Kay ErnstGeorge Conway group hits Ernst in new ad GOP senators introduce resolution opposing calls to defund the police The Hill’s Campaign Report: Republicans go on attack over calls to ‘defund the police’ MORE (R) suggested Monday that President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE’s legal team’s focus on Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE and his son during its ongoing impeachment arguments could hurt the former vice president during next week’s caucuses. 

“Iowa caucuses are this next Monday evening, and I’m really interested to see how this discussion today informs and influences the Iowa caucus voters,” Ernst said of the first-in-the-nation 2020 vote. “Will they be supporting Vice President Biden at this point? Not sure about that.”

Ernst made the remarks to reporters shortly after Trump’s defense team zeroed in on allegations of a conflict of interest involving Joe Biden, a leading Democratic presidential candidate, and his son Hunter Biden during the Senate impeachment trial. 

.@SenJohnBarrasso and @SenJoniErnst on the Iowa Caucus taking place next Monday “Will they be supporting VP Biden at this point? Not sure about that”

Watch More — https://t.co/wvPBk6KrjT pic.twitter.com/xrQJF0SkqC

— CSPAN (@cspan) January 27, 2020

For about 30 minutes, Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general who recently joined the White House communications team to help with impeachment messaging, laid out the argument that it was appropriate for Trump to raise the Bidens during his now-infamous July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The call, in which Trump urged Zelensky to investigate the Bidens as well as an unfounded theory about 2016 election interference — helped lead to the House impeachment inquiry. 

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Democrats have argued that the request, which came after Trump delayed hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Kyiv, amounts to the president abusing his office for personal gain. 

Joe Biden’s supporters were quick to seize on Ernst’s comments as supporting the idea that Republicans only want to handicap Trump’s opponents in November’s election.

“Senator Ernst just said the quiet part out loud: Republicans are terrified that Joe Biden will be the Democratic nominee, defeat Donald Trump, and help progressives up and down the ballot win seats in the House and take the Senate. Donald Trump himself was so afraid of running against Joe Biden that he became the only president in American history who tried to force a foreign country to lie on behalf of his struggling re-election campaign,” Andrew Bates, a spokesman for Joe Biden, said in a statement.

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The Hill has reached out to Ernst’s office for further comment.

Bondi argued that Trump had a “basis” to raise the Bidens because he was concerned with rooting out corruption in Ukraine. She specifically focused on Burisma, the Ukrainian natural gas company that employed Hunter Biden, walking through evidence dating back several years to argue that the firm was corrupt. 

She later played video of witness testimony from the House proceedings in which former administration officials said that Hunter Biden’s role with the company while his father served as vice president represented a possible conflict of interest. She claimed his place on the board was “nepotistic at best, nefarious at worst.” 

Bondi also used her presentation to note that Joe Biden worked to remove a Ukrainian prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, who was investigating Burisma.

There is zero evidence to suggest Joe Biden was working in his son’s interest, and Shokin had been widely criticized by Western nations for his failure to rein in corruption.  

Polls show Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) and Biden leading the Democratic primary race in Iowa. On Monday, Sanders had a 3-point edge in the RealClearPolitics average of polls.

Updated at 9:21 p.m.

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BURLINGTON, Iowa — Since President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE’s impeachment trial kicked off nearly two weeks ago, three key senators in the Democratic field have been cooped up in Washington and unable to campaign across Iowa ahead of Monday’s caucuses.

Fortunately for them, their time away doesn’t seem to have mattered.

Since the trial started Jan. 21, Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) has seen his campaign on the upswing in Iowa, taking over the lead in multiple polls. Sen. Amy KlobucharAmy KlobucharHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Democrats demand Republican leaders examine election challenges after Georgia voting chaos Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (D-Minn.) has ticked up in the polls and has hit double digits in three straight surveys, while Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.) remains firmly in the pack, though her support has dropped slightly in that time.

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As for the remaining two top-tier candidates, the support levels for former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE and former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE have remained relatively static despite both candidates having barnstormed the state throughout.

“Given the importance of social media and tele town halls, technology, all that kind of stuff, the folks who’ve been in D.C. during impeachment, they were able to stay in touch with a lot of folks in Iowa. I think that’s been lost on some folks,” said Rep. Dave LoebsackDavid (Dave) Wayne LoebsackRepublican Mariannette Miller-Meeks to face Democrat Rita Hart in open House race in Iowa Key races to watch in Tuesday’s primaries House Democrats make initial ad buys in battleground states MORE (D-Iowa), a Buttigieg supporter. “They haven’t been here physically as much as they would have liked to been, but they’ve still been able to stay in touch with their folks.” 

Since the start of the trial, Biden and Buttigieg have spent all but two days in the Hawkeye State. However, having set up shop in the state has not led to a rise in the polls.

“It does seem as if all of the coverage of impeachment has frozen the presidential race in place,” one Biden supporter said. They added that The Des Moines Register didn’t lead with the caucuses on multiple occasions this week. In fact, Saturday’s front page featured the Senate GOP defeating the push for additional witnesses. 

“I was always very skeptical about the conventional wisdom that the impeachment trial would be this major detriment for Warren, Sanders, and Klobuchar because they couldn’t physically be in Iowa,” the Biden supporter said. “To the contrary. I think I saw more of Klobuchar on TV during the trial being interviewed than in any previous point.”

The Minnesota Democrat has done a total of 27 national TV hits along with 20 local media interviews since the trial kicked off. 

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Along with being a constant presence on the airwaves, Klobuchar held three tele-town halls — two aimed at Iowans across the state and another for senior citizens. More than 35,500 Iowans tuned into those, according to a campaign memo released Friday morning.

All three campaigns have relied heavily on surrogates in that time as well, with Sanders and Warren holding events continuously featuring high profile lawmakers, celebrities and their own families.

Three members of ‘the squad’ — Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezAttorney says 75-year-old man shoved by Buffalo police suffered brain injury How language is bringing down Donald Trump Highest-circulation Kentucky newspaper endorses Charles Booker in Senate race MORE (D-N.Y.), Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarHow language is bringing down Donald Trump Biden, Democrats seek to shut down calls to defund police McEnany, Ocasio-Cortez tangle over ‘Biden adviser’ label MORE (D-Minn.) and Rashida TlaibRashida Harbi TlaibHow language is bringing down Donald Trump Defunding the police: Put it to a vote McEnany, Ocasio-Cortez tangle over ‘Biden adviser’ label MORE (D-Mich.) — stumped for Sanders on Thursday and Friday.

Their fourth member of the squad, Rep. Ayanna PressleyAyanna PressleyHow language is bringing down Donald Trump Over 1,400 pro athletes, coaches call on Congress to back bill ending qualified immunity Biden’s right, we need policing reform now – the House should quickly take up his call to action MORE (D-Mass.), got a standing ovation from voters in Ames, where she headlined a late rally for Warren.

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Reps. Katie Porter (D-Calif.), Deb HaalandDebra HaalandOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Interior faces legal scrutiny for keeping controversial acting leaders in office | White House faces suit on order lifting endangered species protections | Lawmakers seek investigation of Park Police after clearing of protesters Lawmakers seek investigation of Park Police after clearing of White House protesters Minority caucuses call for quick action on police reform MORE (D-N.M.), Jan SchakowskyJanice (Jan) Danoff SchakowskyChinese tech giants caught up in rising US-China tensions Hillicon Valley: Trump signs order targeting social media legal protections | House requests conference with Senate after FISA vote canceled | Minneapolis systems temporarily brought down by hackers Democrats call on FTC to investigate allegations of TikTok child privacy violations MORE (D-Ill.) and Andy LevinAndrew (Andy) LevinHouse members race to prepare for first-ever remote votes Warren, Levin introduce legislation for federal contact tracing program Johns Hopkins offering free class in how to become a contact tracer MORE (D-Mich.), former HUD Secretary Julián Castro and Warren’s husband Bruce Mann — accompanied by the family dog — also hopped around the state for the Massachusetts senator.

“This is an opportunity for us to highlight the new faces of this campaign, to show the breadth and depth of surrogates,” said Misty Rebik, Sanders’s Iowa state director. 

But the senators’ absence has clearly dimmed turnout, though that is set to change as the Senate passed a resolution on Friday paving the way for President Trump’s acquittal. The chamber will reconvene on Monday, freeing up the 2020 candidates to campaign in Iowa over the weekend.

Pressley addressed a few dozen voters in a cavernous hall on the campus of Iowa State University, a fraction of the crowd Warren herself would have drawn.

“It’s hard if you’ve got two favorites to pick the one you haven’t seen,” said Rob Sand, the state auditor, who remains uncommitted.

The head of the Iowa Democratic Party said Tuesday he had “no knowledge” of a reported offer by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) cyber agency to vet the vote tabulation app that caused delays during the Iowa caucuses on Monday night.

“We had no knowledge of DHS making that offer to us,” Iowa Democratic Party (IDP) Chairman Troy Price said during a press conference to address the handling of the results of the caucus.

Price’s comments came after acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad WolfChad WolfHillicon Valley: Senators raise concerns over government surveillance of protests | Amazon pauses police use of its facial recognition tech | FBI warns hackers are targeting mobile banking apps Democratic senators raise concerns over government surveillance of protests Customs chief says drones above protests were not used for surveillance MORE said during an appearance on “Fox and Friends” earlier Tuesday that the state Democratic Party had turned down an offer to vet the app.

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“Our Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has offered to test that app from a hacking perspective,” Wolf said, noting that the offer was “declined” and that “we’re seeing a couple of issues with it.”

“I would say right now, we don’t see any malicious cyber activity going on,” he added.

Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.

The IDP had said in a statement released Tuesday morning that the app, built by the company Shadow Inc., had “coding issues” resulting in it only reporting “partial data.”

State party officials stressed that the app’s problems had no effect on the vote count and that no cyberattack was involved.

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Shadow is a tech company affiliated with Democratic non-profit Acronym, and has been paid by multiple Democratic candidates including former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE and former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE for text messaging services.

The app was due to be used by the Nevada Democratic Party for vote tabulation during the upcoming Nevada caucuses, but the party announced Tuesday that the app would no longer be used.

The company on Tuesday expressed “regret” over the issues that delayed reporting of the caucus results.

“We sincerely regret the delay in the reporting of the results of last night’s Iowa caucuses and the uncertainty it has caused to the candidates, their campaigns, and Democratic caucus-goers,” the company tweeted on Tuesday afternoon.

MSUM Wrestlers Go 3-1 at Grand Canyon Duals

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Sophomore Philippe Walker and redshirt freshman Jesse Puncochar each went 4-0 to lead the Minnesota State University Moorhead wrestling team to a 3-1 record at the Grand Canyon Duals Saturday in Phoenix, Ariz.

MSUM (5-2 duals) beat California Baptist, 27-18, the Colorado School of Mines, 24-16 and Simon Fraser, 29-19 before losing a tough 22-19 match to No. 6-ranked Grand Canyon to end the day.

Puncochar (174 pounds) won one match by fall, one by major decision and two by decision for MSUM, while Walker (133 pounds) won one by major decision, two by decision and one by injury default. Four Dragons also went 3-1 on the day: seniors Jacob Bennett (157 pounds) and Kerron Williams (165) and juniors Angel Vega (141) and Casey Williams (149).

Against Cal Baptist, junior Matt Lewellen earned a win by fall for MSUM, while Casey Williams won by technical fall. Kerron Williams and Puncochar each won by major decision, while Walker and Bennett both won by decision.

Against Colorado Mines, sophomore Gerad Fugleberg won by fall at heavyweight to help the Dragons clinch the win. Walker won by injury default, while Vega, Casey Williams, Kerron Williams and Puncochar all claimed wins by decision.

Pins from Puncochar and Vega highlighted the Dragons’ win over Simon Fraser. Walker and Lewellen each won by major decision for MSUM, while Kerron Williams won by decision. Bennett won by forfeit as well.

In the loss to Grand Canyon, MSUM led 19-9 heading into the final three weights before the Antelopes rallied for the win. Bennett won by major decision and Casey Williams won by injury default for MSUM, while Walker, Vega and Puncochar won by decision.

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MSUM returns home to host Northern State on Saturday, Jan. 12 to open the NSIC season. The dual begins at 3 p.m. at Alex Nemzek Hall in Moorhead, Minn.

MSU Moorhead 27, Cal Baptist 18
125-Taylor Hall (CBU) tech. fall Mitch Dunlap, 16-1
133-Philippe Walker (MSUM) dec. Dakota Thayer, 6-2
141-Bradford Gerl (CBU) maj. dec. Angel Vega, 11-2
149-Casey Williams (MSUM) tech. fall Alex Smith, 18-2
157-Jacob Bennett (MSUM) dec. Paul Miller, 7-2
165-Kerron Williams (MSUM) maj. dec. Anthony Ballinger, 13-1
174-Jesse Puncochar (MSUM) maj. dec. Kenneth Tribble, 12-1
184-Matt Lewellen (MSUM) pinned Paul Head, 4:59
197-David Bill (CBU) dec. Lucas Moderow, 7-3
Hwt.-Zach Merrill (CBU) pinned Gerad Fugleberg

MSU Moorhead 24, Colorado Mines 16
125-Luis Gurule (CSM) def. Mitch Dunlap, injury default
133-Walker (MSUM) def. Robby Schultheis, injury default
141-Vega (MSUM) dec. Isaac Elge, 6-1
149-C. Williams (MSUM) dec. Austin Cordova, 3-2
157-John Crowley (CSM) dec. Jacob Bennett, 3-2
165-K. Williams (MSUM) dec. Justin Frazer, 9-5
174-Puncochar (MSUM) dec. Chance Davis, 6-1
184-Ryan Swanson (CSM) maj. dec. Lewellen, 11-0
197-Paul Wilson (CSM) dec. Moderow, 7-0
Hwt.-Fugleberg (MSUM) pinned Alex Mackenzie, 1:52

MSU Moorhead 29, Simon Fraser 19
125-Skylor Davis (SF) won by forfeit
133-Walker (MSUM) maj. dec. Sukhan Chahal, 17-3
141-Vega (MSUM) pinned Dillon Hume, 1:38
149-Alex Stemer (SF) dec. C. Williams, 6-3
157-Bennett (MSUM) won by forfeit
165-K. Williams (MSUM) dec. Brock Lamb, 4-3
174-Puncochar (MSUM) pinned Cody Coombe, 2:19
184-Lewellen (MSUM) maj. dec. Manvir Sahota, 11-3
197-Sanjay Rekhi (SF) maj. dec. Matt Beehler, 14-4
Hwt.-Sunny Dhinsa (SF) pinned Gerad Fugleberg, 1:24

Grand Canyon 22, MSU Moorhead 19
125-Kyle McCrite (GC) won by forfeit
133-Walker (MSUM) dec. Lino Estrada, 8-4
141-Vega (MSUM) dec. Mike Hamel, 5-4
149-C. Williams (MSUM) def. Bobby Ward, injury default
157-Bennett (MSUM) maj. dec. Austen Moore, 15-4
165-Juan C. Maynes (GC) dec. K. Williams, 7-6
174-Puncochar (MSUM) dec. Martin Fabbian, 7-6
184-Brett Sanchez (GC) dec. Lewellen, 5-2
197-Marcus Haughian (GC) maj. dec. Moderow, 10-0
Hwt.- Tyrell Fortune (GC) pinned Fugleberg, 1:29

After nearly a month hiatus due to the holiday break, the Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team will get back to action on Saturday, Jan. 12 in Gunnison, Colorado at the 23rd annual Tracy Borah Duals. The Mustangs will take part in four duals versus Colorado Mesa, California Baptist, Western State (Colo.) and Colorado State – Pueblo. SMSU is a perfect 7-0 in dual matches this season.

LAST TIME OUT
The Southwest Minnesota State wrestling team extended its perfect season record in dual matches to 7-0 with three wins over Ridgewater Community College, Itasca Community College and St. John’s over the weekend.

SMSU used a Micah Larson pin to secure a 28-18 win over Ridgewater Community College. In its match versus Itasca, SMSU went 5-1 to take the dual, 23-3. The final four bouts were double forfeits. In the last dual of the day, SMSU tallied four pins en route to a 35-15 victory over Saint John’s.

OPPONENTS AT A GLANCE
Colorado Mesa: The Mavericks are 6-1 in dual matches this season and will enter as the No. 14 ranked team according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Colorado Mesa’s only blemish came against No. 4 St. Cloud State this past weekend, a dual in which the Huskies claimed 32-3.

California Baptist: The Lancers will enter the Tracy Borah duals with a 3-5 record in dual matches. The Lancers dropped all three duals last week at the Grand Canyon duals in Phoenix, Ariz. to MSU Moorhead, No. 3 St. Cloud State and Chadron State College.

Western State (Colo.): The Mountaineers hold a 2-2 dual record so far this season with losses to two ranked teams, No. 14 Colorado Mesa and No. 3 St. Cloud State.

CSU-Pueblo: The Thunderwolves have competed in just two dual matches this season and hold a 1-1 record. CSU defeated Wayland Baptist 56-0 but fell to No. 19 Fort Hays State 29-6.

SMSU Release

Tournament Page | Video (versus Western State)

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