“The problem with being the shiny new thing is that another shiny new thing will come along,” said Grant Woodard, a veteran Iowa Democratic operative who is not aligned with any candidate. “In this primary, there’s literally something for everybody. What is your message, other than I’m young, I’m fresh?”

Allies point to several factors they say are working in O’Rourke’s favor: a work ethic at retail politicking second to none; raw political talent and a celebrity aura, though diminished; one of the biggest email fundraising lists in the field; and an ability to speak about race and immigration, thanks to his political upbringing in a city that is 80 percent Hispanic.

O’Rourke is still drawing relatively large crowds in Iowa — some 125 at Sioux City and another 100-plus in Sioux Center this weekend — and his campaign just opened 11 new field offices in the state, where he’s well on his way to visiting all 99 counties.

“Obviously we are going to need more resources for the national effort, but Iowa is a top priority for this campaign,” Norm Sterzenbach, the O’Rourke campaign Iowa director, said.