Andrew Yang having fun, but Democrat's message is serious.

CHICAGO (AP) — Of all the many Democrats running for president, Andrew Yang is having the most fun.

Unburdened by expectations and unbothered by political convention, the tech entrepreneur has spent months cruising around the country, mixing his dark warnings about America's new tech economy with doses of humor and unscripted bluntness.

He has crowd-surfed, skateboarded and made memorable quips at nationally televised debates. At a new office opening in New Hampshire, he sprayed whipped cream from an aerosol can into the mouths of hyped-up supporters. Later this month in Las Vegas, he'll raise money for his campaign at a high-roller poker tournament featuring World Series of Poker champions.

The formula has made him one of this 2020 campaign's phenomenons. His outsider bid is fueled by policy, personality and technology. It's outlasted the White House campaigns this year of some governors and senators, and seems to be following the advice of a state party chairman who said voters can tell whether candidates are enjoying themselves.

Yang's campaign may not have hum on track to winning the nomination, but it may be delivering sober warnings to conventional Democrats about the kinds of voters they're leaving behind.

“You can tell if someone's like gritting their teeth or if they're genuinely happy to be there and want to talk to you," Yang said between events at two Chicago universities this past week, including a rally that drew about 1,500 people. The state chairman's guidance, he said, has ``made it easier for me to lean into just how I would naturally be as a person."

“I think if people dig into my campaign they see it's a very, very serious message,” Yang said. “We are going through the greatest economic transformation in our country's history and we need to rewrite the rules of this economy to work for...