Pete Buttigieg has his sights set on Elizabeth Warren in Iowa

[brooklynite]

CNN

Decorah, Iowa (CNN)In the first few minutes of his bus tour that began Saturday, Pete Buttigieg said he misspoke. He hadn't meant to say that the 2020 Democratic primary was a two-person race between himself and Elizabeth Warren.

His message this weekend, however, told a markedly different story.

Buttigieg spent much of his time on his three-day, 330-plus mile bus tour through northern Iowa preaching the need for unity, drawing a not-so-subtle contrast with Warren's focus on fighting. It's a new strategy that exemplifies the belief inside the Buttigieg campaign that Warren -- whose growing and powerful campaign in the state is seen by Iowa operatives as outflanking former Vice President Joe Biden or Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders -- is the biggest obstacle the South Bend, Indiana, mayor faces over finishing first in Iowa.

Buttigieg, in both conversations with reporters and voters, argued that Warren's message is divisive, questioned the impact that calls for "purity" will have on both the race for the White House and Congress and decried her "my way or the highway approach." He denied that he is overlooking Biden and Sanders -- calling them "formidable" in the state -- but spent far more time this weekend subtly contrasting himself to the Massachusetts senator.

[dlk]

1. We need a candidate with at least some experience in Washington

I firmly believe the presidency is not the place for on-the-job training at a national level and I’m beginning to wonder about Pete. I recall watching a video of a stop on his book tour where he made very disparaging remarks about Hillary that seemed, to me, to be out of context for the topic at hand.

[dalton99a]

2. But he is very very smart

and he reads and says a lot of things (in 17 languages!)

[dlk]

15. Smart and well-read is good. Adding DC experience is even better

No one is disputing Pete’s obvious intelligence. To be a successful president I believe he needs a little more seasoning in the national arena.

[Hestia]

10. Agreed. DH & I have discussed this several times. Run for State Senate, US Senate, Gov, THEN

run for president. Being mayor of a small town doesn't even come close to the experience he needs. He has decades left to run for president. This is a matter where experience really does matter.

Maybe by that time he will be humbled and leave the snide and condescending tone at the door. The way he talks to/about EW, BS & JB is disdainful and he acts like they are in their dotage or something - which they ain't even close. (Well, maybe Joe).

[Skya Rhen]

3. Buttigieg is going to effectively expose Warren's vulnerabilities thereby weakening her candidacy.

[scheming daemons]

5. Warren weakened her own campaign with the M4A stupidity

It will rejuvenate Biden and Buttigieg in Iowa.

[scheming daemons]

4. Warren's M4A rollout has given Buttigieg a fighting chance in Iowa

Major blunder by her.

[BeyondGeography]

6. The unity shtick might be comforting

But eight years of Obama getting his outstretched hand slapped should tell you it’s the political equivalent of Einstein’s definition of insanity.

[kstewart33]

7. Warren is in real trouble because of her M4A plan.

The plan essentially restructures the economy and absolutely no one knows how it will turn out.

But fortunately, we won't know because there is no way in heck it will pass Congress, and frankly it shouldn't. There are holes a mile wide in it.

I admire her greatly, but I am amazed she would release something like this. It's very likely that she recognizes her mistake.

[BeyondGeography]

8. Pete is ultimately going to fail because his whole candidacy is based on a fallacy

Warren got the issue of pay-for out of the way and will march on. People know she will fight for them and, believe it or not, the current fever over her plan for a bill that most people realize won’t become a reality for at least another decade will break. Meantime, she can point out that nobody has spelled out the details of their HC plans in as much depth as she has.

[dalton99a]

9. The darling of the white elites and professional-managerial class will meet his Waterloo

in South Carolina

[LakeArenal]

13. Really. I'm surprised by you saying that.

I’m not an elite but I was in the managerial class. What does that label even mean?

I like Pete. I think he’d be a perfect VP.

Love you dalton, not trying to pick a fight. Just surprised of the labels and feel that their use here is pejorative.

“Elites” are the Dump supporters anyway.
Groups that think they are exclusively superior.

Guess I agree with you 99% of the time.

[Hestia]

11. What are y'all seeing that we aren't out here? There has been no stumble - just what MSM says

it was. Her M4A plan is great if you actually READ it. Schakowsky's (sp?) plan could be merged with hers, the math is there, everyone is already paying through Medicare Tax, Co-Pays, Payroll Deduction and high match before benefits even kick in. That's keeps going up every year and now private insurance is not wanting to cover pre-existing.

We are almost back to where we were before ACA was signed.

Seniors are already paying for Part B through their SS checks/deposit each month. Plus they have Advantage Plans that cover Part A , Part D and other co-pays that aren't covered with Original Medicare. Again, being covered by private insurance.

Why in the world anyone just "loves their insurance," which can kick them off at anytime, decide if they live or die and keep charging for all these surprise amount, hound you and your heirs for non-payment. What have they really done for you lately, beside raking off 10% off the top?

The unions who fought for good insurance, keep it until there comes a point where M4A is less expensive and more comprehensive.

The math is really there. Maybe EW needs to dumb it down for everyone so they will understand exactly how it would work.

[Skya Rhen]

14. Really? We're seeing that she's no longer the front runner in the national polls. That's what.

[DeterDeter]

12. I think that Buttigieg

is a prodigious political talent, and I'm so impressed with the way he's been able to build his campaign over the last year. I liked him from the moment I first heard him speak, but I don't know that I would have predicted that he would be beating some of the Democratic Party's rising stars (Harris, Booker, O'Rourke) at this point in the presidential primary race.

That said, I still think that our candidate needs to have more experience. It seems clear to me that the media would love to see a Buttigieg vs. Warren race at this point, but I also think that he's really benefited in the media narrative this week from some boosted numbers in Iowa that haven't translated elsewhere in the polls yet (but it's still early) It's apparent that his campaign has invested very heavily in the Iowa race, but I'm not sure what his trajectory would look like after that.

That said, of course I would gladly vote for him in the general. I would love to see him debate Trump.