Hilary Clinton kicks off campaign in Iowa café

Hillary Clinton hit the campaign trail in Iowa yesterday.

Clinton made the 1,000 mile trip from her New York home to the midwestern state that kicks off the long, state-by-state contest for the Democratic nomination.

Her first stop was in a coffee shop in the town of Le Claire and she also visited a community college with a small group of teachers and students to talk about education and getting ahead in the new economy.

The event had a low-key, if not quite informal feel, with Clinton asking students what they were working on and inviting their questions about the government’s role in helping students achieve their goals.

Her campaign had said she would stick to small gatherings in Iowa to better connect with voters ahead of a more formal rally.

Clinton laid out four campaign planks:

• Revitalising the economy
• Support for families
• Getting dirty money out of politics
• Defending against threats.

Clinton said she would support a constitutional amendment to eliminate dark money from US politics.

She said it was a shame to see federal Common Core education standards at the centre of a partisan debate.

In a video message announcing her candidacy, she promised to serve as the “champion” of everyday Americans in a country with growing income inequality.

Clinton appears unlikely to face a formidable Democratic opponent in the primary elections. Should she win the nomination, she would face the winner of a crowded Republican primary field.

Kentucky senator Rand Paul, a favourite among libertarians, and Texas senator Ted Cruz, a champion of the right-wing tea party movement, have already entered the Republican race. Cuban-American senator Marco Rubio of Florida is expected to announce his bid to be the first Hispanic president.