Democratic Voters, Donors Give Buttigieg a Fresh Look

[question everything]

Shortly after 12 presidential candidates stepped off the debate stage earlier this month, roughly two-dozen influential Democrats at a watch party held an informal survey to see which White House contenders made an impression during the three-hour event. The majority of the group—which included Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who has yet to endorse a candidate, and big donors to former Vice President Joe Biden and Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts—agreed one candidate was particularly strong: South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, some attendees said.

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Mr. Buttigieg is still well behind the leaders, who also include Mr. Sanders, in national polls. But interviews with voters and donors showed he is attracting notice as some members of the party’s establishment wing look for an alternative to Mr. Biden or for a backup candidate in case the former vice president, the field’s leader in national polling, should falter.

(snip)

Mr. Buttigieg has been met with growing interest from undecided Democrats in the presidential primary, interviews with donors in California and New York and voters in New Hampshire and Iowa found. Many are now tuning in, with roughly three months to go before the Iowa caucuses and the crowded field starting to thin. Tina Bourgeois, 52 years old, of Manchester, N.H., said she has now winnowed her top choices down to three candidates, with Mr. Buttigieg making the cut. She said the mayor had an advantage over the other candidates in his tone and demeanor. “His presentation is comforting,” Ms. Bourgeois said.

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One donor said he plans to attend the state Democratic Party’s Liberty and Justice Celebration next week to get a sense of whether there is a surge in Iowa for Mr. Buttigieg, as some recent polls have suggested. In major public polls, Mr. Buttigieg passed Mr. Sanders for the first time in Iowa in surveys released late last week and earlier this week. Donors who have already given to other candidates are also expressing interest in giving Mr. Buttigieg a second look. Sam Yebri, a Los-Angeles based lawyer and community activist, spoke with Mr. Buttigieg at a meet-and-greet gathering of about 20 people at a West Hollywood, Calif., hotel restaurant last week. Mr. Yebri, who has also supported Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris, said he was impressed by Mr. Buttigieg’s intellect, ideas and experience—and also chatted with him for a bit in Farsi.

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But Mr. Buttigieg still faces major hurdles in his path to the Democratic nomination. His campaign has continued to struggle with making inroads with black voters, who make up 60% of the Democratic electorate in South Carolina, the fourth state to hold a nominating contest.

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https://www.wsj.com/articles/democratic-voters-donors-give-buttigieg-a-fresh-look-11572012988 (paid subscription)

[patricia92243]

1. His presentation is comforting - I love that. We need some comforting after

the last few years.

[Voltaire2]

2. with biden stumbling somebody else has to run on the right