In Iowa debut, Booker tells Democrats to turn despair into action

DES MOINES, Iowa — New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker urged Democrats disappointed by Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to turn their despair into action as he made his national debut in Iowa as a Democratic presidential prospect.

Racing from Saturday afternoon's Senate confirmation vote in Washington, Booker breezed into the Iowa Democratic Party's top fall fundraiser to try to make a positive impression on roughly 1,000 party activists. He is visiting the early presidential testing ground this weekend as he weighs a campaign for the 2020 Democratic nomination.

"I see the pain and the hurt, but I want to remind everyone here in this room tonight, full of fellowship, this room full of faith, that this is a time in our country when we need to stay faithful," Booker told the audience at a convention center in downtown Des Moines. All but one Democratic senator voted against Kavanaugh, who was confirmed 50-48.

Booker's appearance was not just a seminal moment for the 49-year-old former mayor of Newark. He is also the party's biggest name to make a foray into the first-in-the-nation caucus state, where so far lesser-known, would-be candidates have been working to get a head start.

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/democrat-booker-fresh-from-kavanaugh-vote-makes-iowa-debut/495361491/