states. and iowa being iowa with the prize of a caucus victory as glittering as des moines's capitol dome, those guaranteed book club crowds have proved irresistible to candidates. >> i think it's a great i thin. i think primaries should be battles of idea. >> so on a friday night with avid readers packed into andrea's living room, beverages at the ready, john delaney makes his long-shot case for president. >> my program gives every american basic health care as a right of citizenship. >> i think i've learned a lot. >> it helps us be really, really educated voters. >> reporter: the next morning another crowd at the local y for kirsten gillibrand. why should somebody read your book? >> tell you a lot about who i am and why i'm ready for this job. >> reporter: the questions often different than stump appearances. >> what about your potty mouth, you discuss it in your book as your grandmother had an epic