The small-town mayor and presidential candidate is both very different and very familiar to Democratic voters.
On paper, Pete Buttigieg doesn’t seem like a high-profile presidential candidate. But somehow, the mayor of South Bend, Ind., has become a serious political force.
An April Monmouth University poll of likely Iowa Democratic caucus attendees found Buttigieg in third place behind some of the biggest names in Democratic politics: former vice president Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Even when you factor in the poll’s margin of error, he is at least running even with sitting senators.
An April St. Anselm poll of Democratic voters in another crucial early-voting state, New Hampshire, found Buttigieg in third place as well. And The Fix’s Aaron Blake pointed out that Buttigieg outraised four sitting senators in the first three months of this year, even as he spent less than his competitors to get his name out there.
Before we go any further, it’s worth noting it’s still very early in the campaign. “I can’t tell if he’s the latest flavor of the month or the week or he’s got staying power,” said Jim Manley, a Democratic strategist. “I honestly think it remains to be seen whether he goes the distance or not.” He also has some liabilities that could trip him up. As Democratic strategist David Axelrod pointed out, Buttigieg’s hardcore supporters appear almost entirely white. (He has also faced criticism for his demotion of South Bend’s first black police chief, reports The Post’s Robert Costa.)
But even so, the passion for “Mayor Pete” — and the speed at which it developed — is notable. How is he doing it?
It’s probably a fool’s errand to try to pin down what, exactly, is making Buttigieg so popular.
