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This Is What It's Like Inside Bernie Sanders' Iowa HQ Days Before The Caucus (Photos)

by Alexandra Svokos

The days leading up to a vote are, predictably, crazy for people working on the campaign.

This weekend in Iowa, volunteers and paid employees are running around trying to get one last push for their candidate before the caucus on Monday night, when Iowans will vote for their party's candidate.

Volunteers and workers are busy physically walking around encouraging votes as well as calling potential voters on the phone, stuffing envelopes to be sent out and getting people organized for the caucus.

For the Bernie Sanders campaign in Iowa, that craziness is organized from the headquarters in Des Moines. We stopped in on the Thursday before the vote to check out the scene.

The headquarters is located in a strip mall with a big Hy-Vee (a Midwestern supermarket chain). You can find the Sanders campaign by looking for the signs in the window.

Alexandra Svokos

Inside, you're greeted by Bernie himself -- er, at least a cardboard version of him.

Alexandra Svokos

You can stop in to pick up Bernie swag, and volunteering is encouraged with highly appealing animal crackers.

Alexandra Svokos

A bulletin board with Bernie's stances and meme-style messages leads you inside.

Alexandra Svokos

Campaign volunteers and workers are busy organizing a mass of plans to encourage people to "go caucus" for Bernie.

Alexandra Svokos

The office is filled with a mixture of cute Bernie artwork, office supplies and campaign materials.

Alexandra Svokos

Packing envelopes are surrounded by informational papers about the caucus that will be placed on Iowans' doors.

Alexandra Svokos

People in the headquarters came from as far as California and as near as Des Moines itself to help get Bernie the vote in the nation's first primary.

Alexandra Svokos

The office has mailing materials for voters and sweet posters with Bernie's stances and quotes. The staff is clearly comfortable here.

Alexandra Svokos

Typically there are about 100 people in the office, but many were out walking door-to-door asking Iowans to vote for Bernie.

Alexandra Svokos

As can be expected, Bernie t-shirts and accessories abound.

Alexandra Svokos

Celebrities came out to support Bernie, including Nev Schulman and Max Joseph from "Catfish," who stopped in between filming episodes. They say Bernie is someone who can bring excitement among the younger generation.

Alexandra Svokos

Even Paula the dog feels the Bern.

Alexandra Svokos

Colorful signs around the office remind the campaign what they're working for.

Alexandra Svokos

This is one of 26 offices all around Iowa and was the second one opened in the state.

Alexandra Svokos

Clipboards await volunteers who will use them on their door-to-door walking campaigns.

Alexandra Svokos

As you walk out to go campaign in the outside world, you're reminded one more time about the fight.

Alexandra Svokos