Pete Buttigieg has money. Can he turn it into a 2020 win?

[DonViejo]

By SARA BURNETT
2 hours ago

CARROLL, Iowa (AP) — Pete Buttigieg stunned the Democratic presidential field with a nearly $25 million second-quarter fundraising haul. Now he needs to figure out how to use that money to build a campaign that can go the distance against nearly two dozen rivals — many of them better known — and ensure that enthusiasm from donors is matched by support from voters.

That poses big challenges for the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who lags several of his top opponents in the number of staff on the ground in early states. He also has significant work to do to earn support of African American voters, a crucial constituency in the Democratic presidential primary.

Buttigieg said much of his emphasis will be on retail politics — more days like Thursday, when he blitzed across Iowa for a parade and picnics and one-on-one interactions with voters. The campaign also says it plans in coming months to add 100 people to a staff that started with six employees and now has about 200, as well as enlist a larger number of volunteers.

“The whole point of all that fundraising was to make sure that we have the organization we need to win,” Buttigieg told reporters after a town hall meeting in a sweltering Sioux City, Iowa high school gymnasium. “Obviously we got great news on that front, now we’ve got to put it to work.”

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https://apnews.com/87c092e88a964e2e8b38b2128751b764

[FakeNoose]

1. He should try to get a coalition of Midwestern Dems together

Many other candidates tend to overlook the cornbelt states, but Mayor Pete could have a lot of appeal for them. It wouldn't be enough votes to secure the nomination, but it would make him a formidable player in the primaries. As much as I like Mayor Pete, I still think he's a long-shot for this election. The best thing he can do is make a lot of friends and talk to as many people as he can, this time out.

I believe he's the future of our Party, along with Kamala, AOC, and a few others.

[DownriverDem]

3. Totally agree

Our future will be paved with a win against trump. We have to have the votes of the middle to beat trump.

[DownriverDem]

2. I so wish

the country was ready for Pete and a woman to be President. However as long as we have to win the Electoral College, I do not think they can win. That is why to me beating trump is all that matters and why I support Biden. Biden running with a strong progressive Dem woman as VP can beat trump. We have never had a woman VP. Americans would then see her in a National leadership position. She would then be aligned to be President. The only thing that matters is beating trump. If a Dem doesn't win, we can all kiss our progressive goals bye bye.

[customerserviceguy]

4. If he can pull into third in Iowa

he could be a force to be reckoned with. I don't think he'll do well in the Southern primaries, but those will be split up between Biden and Harris.

By the end of this thing, he may well be the only candidate who does not go negative on other Democratic candidates, and that may serve him for the future.

[bluewater]

5. Or even Fourth place in Iowa

If it's a dead heat between the leaders.

[customerserviceguy]

6. I think it would have to be a really close

fourth place. If three leaders have about 25% each, it's not looking good for anybody with 10% or less.

[msongs]

7. no nt

[flamingdem]

8. 1 % support from African Americans

means it's not going to work out for him.

[Gothmog]

9. From my twitter feed

Link to tweet

[MineralMan]

10. I'm afraid that his inexperience and poor performance with people of color

is going to keep him from winning the nomination. Perhaps that's not fair, but it appears to be the reality. With the well-qualified field of candidates, it won't take much to keep the nomination from going to someone else.

I like Mayor Pete, but I think he needs some time in a state or federal elected office before he can run for President successfully. Perhaps he should run in his own state for a legislative position, and then parlay that into a Congressional office. He's young, and has time to establish himself better.

Up against Senators, House Members, a governor or two, and others with long government experience as elected officials, Pete Buttigieg is overmatched by his competitors, I think.

I don't see a presidential nomination in his immediate future.