NYT : Pete Buttigieg Just Wants to Be Useful

[Celerity]

The former presidential candidate’s new political action committee is supporting some Democrats you’ve probably never heard of.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/20/us/politics/pete-buttigieg-interview.html

For a presidential candidate, a campaign is a state of continuous motion, a blur of rallies, interviews, strategy sessions and fund-raisers. Meals happen in cars and buses — if they happen at all. Exercise is a luxury. And sleep? Well, sometimes. Over the course of three weeks, Pete Buttigieg went from the nonstop pace of his nearly 15-month presidential bid to a dead halt, after he quit the Democratic race and Indiana shut down to stop the spread of the coronavirus. It wasn’t the post-campaign period that Mr. Buttigieg, or anyone really, had planned. That Mr. Buttigieg, who entered the race at age 37 and was the second-youngest presidential candidate in modern American history, has a political future ahead of him seems clear.

The question is, What will it look like? (For all you trivia lovers, former Gov. Jerry Brown of California was a few months younger than Mr. Buttigieg when he ran in the 1976 Democratic primary race.) Mr. Buttigieg has begun dropping a few clues from his quarantine in South Bend. Last week, he released the first slate of endorsements from his new political action committee, Win the Era. He’s been doing some virtual events for Joe Biden. His husband, Chasten, is writing a memoir. We talked to Mr. Buttigieg about campaign regrets, how he’s spending his days and what he might do next. (As usual, our conversation has been edited and condensed.)

Hi. Thanks so much for speaking with me. I can’t imagine getting off the high-speed train that is a presidential campaign and then coming into quarantine.

They talk about going from 60 miles an hour to zero, but we really went to zero in terms of physical motion. But one of the things we’re learning is there really are lots of ways to do things and be involved. You just have to be imaginative about how to do them while you’re in the four walls of your house.

Where are you quarantining?

I’m at home in South Bend. I’ve probably spent more time in this house in the last two months than I have since I bought it a decade ago. We definitely set an all-time record for the most meals we’ve cooked and eaten at the dining room table, which is great, because for the last year and a half most of my meals were in vehicles.

I have to say, I picture you being irritatingly productive during this time at home, like learning Greek or taking up the viola.......

snip

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Thanks for posting this, my dear Celerity!

I'm all in favor of hearing what Pete's up to, now.

I sure hope he will get a post in Joe Biden's administration and that that will vanquish the horror of "inexperience!"

And then I hope he will run for the Presidency again, and win!

[Celerity]

3. hugz my dear Peggy, I do too

stay safe!

[qazplm135]

2. His best path to higher office would be a cabinet position

possibly Sec Def.

This would then I think transition well to a Senator or Gov run in Indiana which would then give him the foundation to run for President again say 10 years or so from now.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. The problem is that Indiana is very red. Reliably so, in fact.

Otherwise, he would already have worked to get a position like those.

But we shall see!

[qazplm135]

6. It's not so red that Obama couldn't win

and it's had Dem Senators and Governors. 2012-2018 in the former, and 2000-2004 in the latter.

Plus, Buttigieg is moderate enough to win in the state.

He just needs some more time and seasoning. Plus I think the state will get a little more purple the next decade or so.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. You could well be right. I hope so, for all our sakes.

[Polybius]

10. The 2008 Indiana election is at outlier and total mystery

McCain was leading in every poll up until the next election. Maybe they stood home or were lying or something else, no idea. In 2012 Romney won by 11 points. 2008 is very strange. Maybe Republicans tried to take votes away from Democrats there electronically, and accidentally made a mistake against their favor.

[qazplm135]

11. what about the 2012 election

that elected Donnelly? Or the two Dem govs in a row in the late 90s early 2000s?

Look, I'm not pretending Indiana is Virginia, but it isn't Alabama either.

[Polybius]

12. I think a Democrat for governor can win there

It's a bit tougher though for one to win as a Senator, and all but impossible for a President.

[JI7]

13. 2008 was a Recession . And it would be more difficult for a Gay Man than

straight white men .

[qazplm135]

14. In ten years??

There's no reason why in ten years after a successful stint as sec def, Pete can't win statewide in Indiana. I spent over a decade there. It's not Alabama. Moderate Dems can win there. Yes even gay ones.

[Corgigal]

5. Pete

and Biden are doing the virtual phone call on Friday. Pete is going to be asking Biden some questions. Pete is still collecting money on his PAC, and he was always a good fundraiser.

Miss the kid in this campaign. I was never with any of the older candidates. I might do the phone call on Friday, i might learn something. At least Biden is reaching out to us, and that’s a smart choice.

[grantcart]

8. He is smart and right about county supervisors, etc

[mobeau69]

9. The renaissance man! I enjoyed his book so much!

Thank you for being you, Pete.