Amy Klobuchar Has a Pete Buttigieg Problem

[Shrek]

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/11/amy-klobuchar-pete-buttigieg-2020/601483/

Klobuchar has been experiencing a boomlet of late: In less than a week after the last Democratic debate, during which she criticized Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts for refusing to explain exactly how she would pay for Medicare for All, Klobuchar raised $2 million, and she’s gotten more endorsements from lawmakers in Iowa than any other presidential candidate. Recently, Klobuchar has more forcefully positioned herself as somewhere between the front-runners in the race—a moderate alternative to Warren and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont who can attract the voters wary of former Vice President Joe Biden.

This could be Klobuchar’s moment. But it appears, at least right now, to be someone else’s.

Pete Buttigieg, the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has also been casting himself as the pragmatic alternative to the more progressive front-runners. And it seems to be working for him: The most recent poll from ABC/The Washington Post showed Klobuchar with 2 percent support nationwide, compared with roughly 9 percent for Buttigieg. While the voters I spoke with at Monday’s event were happy to hear from Klobuchar and extol her experience as a purple-state senator, almost no one was fully committed to supporting her in the primary. But everyone—everyone—was singing Buttigieg’s praises.

[jezebel321]

1. yep, I suspect at the next debate Klobuchar, Harris, and Booker are going to try and

have a go at Buttigieg. I think all want to try and be the moderate alternative to Biden and right now Buttigieg is definitely winning that.

[customerserviceguy]

4. So, how are they going to go at him?

His only vulnerability (besides his age) is race relations, and he has not actively done anything that would alienate people of color. And other than Joe Biden, who really has a lot of African-American or Latino support?

Even a Fox News moderator would not ask Pete if a gay man can be elected president in this day and age. Surely no other Democratic candidate would go there.

[LakeArenal]

2. Love both. Hope they wind up in an administration

The Al Franken be given Amy’s seat.

[Clash City Rocker]

3. I would just like a president with more experience than Buttigieg

Mayor of America’s 306th largest city isn’t enough experience for the job, in my opinion.