In Iowa, Stormy Daniels' lawyer says Democrats must fight

Michael Avenatti, the self-styled provocateur taking on the president for porn actress Stormy Daniels, has told Iowa Democrats that the party needs a bare-knuckle fighter to take back the White House and he's considering formally casting himself in the role.

In a political scene unthinkable just months ago, Avenatti was the closing speaker at the Democratic Wing Ding in Clear Lake, Iowa, a traditional stop for presidential hopefuls. His remarks came after a tour through the early-voting state that included a visit to the state fair and meetings with key Democratic officials.

"What I fear for this Democratic Party that I love is that we have a tendency to bring nail clippers to gunfights," Avenatti told an enthusiastic crowd in the Surf Ballroom and Museum.

"Tonight I want to suggest a different course. I believe that the Democratic Party must be a party that fights fire with fire." He added, "When they go low, I say, we hit harder."
It was a reversal of former First Lady Michelle Obama's declaration at the 2016 Democratic Convention, "When they go low, we go high." In an interview, Avenatti said: "At that point in time, for what she was speaking about, I think that was the right message. But as we sit here now, that approach clearly will not work."
Novelty candidates are nothing new to politically savvy Iowans. Indeed, Trump who did not win the Republican caucuses but did win the state in the 2016 general election was a reality star before he took to the campaign trail. Wing Ding Chairman Randy Black said Avenatti could have a similar effect, noting: "You have Trump, who opened up doors for people who never entered a political arena before. Michael Avenatti has done the same thing."