Black South Bend leader endorses Biden, rebukes Buttigie

[Gothmog]

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The longest-serving African American man on the South Bend, Ind., Common Council is endorsing Joe Biden for president, a rejection of Pete Buttigieg that highlights the South Bend mayor’s struggle with black voters.

Council Vice President Oliver Davis told POLITICO that while it’s nice to see someone representing Indiana in the Democratic presidential primary and bringing national attention to South Bend, Biden is more experienced.

“When you’re flying in the middle of a storm, you want to make sure you have steady, experienced leadership,” Davis said. “I believe that Vice President Biden has demonstrated throughout the years by having a steady hand, he can help lead us through these times, and with all of the challenges we face nationally and now even internationally, he has the relationships, has the skills, and I think he can bring us together in different ways.”

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But Davis also scolded Buttigieg, saying the mayor’s woes attracting support from communities of color “is not a new problem for him.”

“For us, this has been a consistent issue that has not gone away,” Davis said.

[Gothmog]

1. BIG! South Bend Councilman Oliver Davis Endorses @JoeBiden

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[Cha]

3. Great tweet pic.. I love this!

[Cha]

2. I think it's awsome.. and great

endorsement statement!

Mahalo, Goth!

[Gothmog]

4. Black South Bend official endorses Biden while criticizing Buttigieg

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The vice president of the South Bend, Indiana, Common Council on Friday endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president, and criticized South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg as the city's mayor faces more questions about his appeal to black voters.

Oliver Davis is one of the longest-serving black South Bend council members, according to a news release by the Biden campaign, and was previously the president of the South Bend Common Council. Davis ran for mayor in South Bend this year and lost to James Mueller, whom Buttigieg endorsed as his preferred successor. Buttigieg has been mayor of South Bend since 2012, and did not seek reelection.

"In times like these, when the political winds are fiercely blowing across our country, it's important for us to have an experienced leader who has been through the diverse storms of life to guide our country. That's why I am very pleased to support Vice President Joe Biden to be our next President of the United States of America," Davis said in a statement provided by the Biden campaign.

Davis told Politico that Biden is more experienced, and said he doubted Buttigieg could win a general election given his low level of support among black voters. Davis told Politico that Buttigieg's problem attracting support from communities of color "is not a new problem for him." He said: "For us, this has been a consistent issue that has not gone away."

[Cha]

5. Tweet pic of Oliver Davis.. thanks to you, Goth!

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[Gothmog]

6. It's so exciting how many african american hoosiers are coming forward to support Joe Biden!

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