I'm lost as to how she brings "star power" or an "inspiration" to people.

I'll say this much. She won her district at a young age, and beat a well known name in the area, and a long time incumbent. That IS something to be proud of.

But since, she has pretty much done NOTHING for her district or constituents. Somehow she became an overnight sensation with her victory, and then befriending 2 other freshman, making a trio of first timers that would make a hell of a first year impression with their actions and words on the internet. Instantly, AOC started making rounds on all of the news stations and pundits shows and got a lot of notoriety - for nothing. Then comes out with some truly insane ideas, and then IMO comes out with the worst of all, which gained acceptance - in her new green deal crap.

And now folks are in a love her or hate her mode. Due to her instant popularity, her crazy ideas & internet fame has made her a "leader" of sorts, while still doing absolutely nothing.

So, IMO, folks on the left love her. They love her being a "star", and her new ideas and socialism (which I think all across the board is a clear failure). Then the right can't stand her. Her non-stop fame, but more so her non-stop stupid claims and words and constant inaction. And IMO, doesn't speak well for them if she is some huge draw and huge endorsement.

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AOC brings star power to Iowa for Sanders

One rally featuring the New York congresswoman was the largest of the campaign cycle in the caucus state.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — Gabriela Barajas’ friends dragged her to the rally with Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The 19-year-old had never gone to a campaign event before, and she had no idea who she’d support in the Democratic primary. But by the time she left, she was with Sanders.

“I’m speechless right now,” she said as her friends bolted toward her with a freshly snapped selfie with Ocasio-Cortez in hand. “Seeing how passionate he is, how passionate she is, it just amazes me. ... She’s inspirational to all Latinas, to all women.”

Ocasio-Cortez’s star power was put to the test in Middle America this weekend — and she and Sanders drew thousands of excited fans to three stops across Iowa. Audience members donned purple shirts emblazoned with the Bronx congresswoman’s name and shouted “I love you!” to her.

The raucous crowds demonstrated that Ocasio-Cortez can boost excitement and win media attention for Sanders’ campaign in the early-voting states, even if she comes with the downside of turning off some moderate voters. All three stops this weekend were larger than any Sanders had previously held in Iowa this year, bringing between 2,000 and 2,400 people each, according to the campaign. Sanders aides said the Council Bluffs rally drew more people than any other presidential campaign event in the state in 2019.

“Some campaigns struggle to make 1,000 face-to-face contacts in a week,” boasted Misty Rebik, Sanders’ Iowa state director. "We just tripled that in 24 hours.”

Ocasio-Cortez’s reception in the first-in-the-nation caucus state also fueled hopes among her supporters that she will run for president herself in the not-so-distant future.

Sanders’ aides worked to convert the excited rally-goers into dedicated volunteers and caucus-goers, passing around volunteer sign-up sheets at each stop this weekend. The campaign told POLITICO that it registered more than 3,000 new volunteers at the events as well as about 500 people to help out specifically on the night of the caucuses.

Sanders’ team believes that Ocasio-Cortez’s endorsement will excite the base and turn out young and progressive Democrats. But some of Sanders’ aides and allies hope it will also persuade new voters to give him a look.

“She’s going to do both,” said Stacey Walker, Sanders’ Iowa campaign co-chair, adding that “there is a generation of young political activists that see AOC as the future of the party” and “we will see an expanded turnout among the Latino community.”

But some Democratic officials doubt that the nod by Ocasio-Cortez, a democratic socialist, will pull in new voters for Sanders. Others said it could backfire among centrist caucus-goers.

“Western Iowa isn’t exactly New York City,” said Scott Punteney, leader of the Pottawattamie County Democratic Party, in explaining concerns about Ocasio-Cortez he’s heard from other officials. “Some of her ideas might not sit well with a lot of more moderate Democrats, which is kind of what we have in the area.”

Rest - https://www.politico.com/news/2019/1...sanders-068786