As Joe Biden woos Iowa voters, Pete Buttigieg seems increasingly to be in his way

[BeyondGeography]

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — Jeanne Trachta was a strong Joe Biden supporter during his 2008 presidential campaign, serving as a precinct captain. A dozen years later, she still likes the 77-year-old former vice president, but as she waited for his event here to begin, she gushed about a candidate less than half Biden’s age.

“He’s so articulate and charismatic and intelligent,” Trachta said of Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., whom she had seen here just a few days earlier. “He’s so organized. I’m getting something from the Buttigieg campaign a couple times a day.”

Trachta personifies a challenge facing Biden in Iowa and elsewhere as he tries to regain traction with the argument that he is the experienced, tested candidate best able to beat President Trump. Among centrist voters inclined to like Biden, the 37-year-old Buttigieg is becoming plausible as an alternative, and he highlights what Biden is not: energetic, articulate and young.

“I’ve narrowed it to Joe and Pete,” said Ed Neddermeyer, a farmer in Schleswig, Iowa. “Joe comes from a tried-and-true administration. Pete has a fresh face. I like what he’s saying and how he is saying it. When he first came out, there is no way I’d say that.”

These are difficult days for the Biden campaign. Although he has maintained his lead in national polls, Biden plummeted to a third-place tie last month in the Des Moines Register/CNN poll of Iowa while Buttigieg leapt into first. Those results, along with other polls showing Biden doing poorly in New Hampshire, which holds the other first contest of the primary season, set off renewed alarms about the former vice president’s prospects...

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-12-03/joe-biden-woos-iowa-voters-pete-buttigieg-increasingly-in-his-way

[LeftTurn3623]

1. I think its a matter of time for Pete to win the nomination

After winning Iowa and NH he will have the wind at his back. He is already starting to turn to SC. Once the voters there hear him he will win them over also.

[BeyondGeography]

2. Lol...Pete, is that you?

Long way to go in this game; two months until the first vote is cast. He's looking strong in the first two states. We'll see what happens after that. Personally, I don't see the more diverse states falling in love with him the way they did with Obama, and even he got his butt kicked in places like CA, NY, TX, PA and OH.

[LeftTurn3623]

10. why is that?

Why do you feel diverse states wont fall in love with him? Because he is white, Gay, or because of his policies?


I watched 2 different reports on him and they both interviewed people of color from Southern States. And the problem was they didn't even know who he was? They didn't even know what state he was from. That is the issue. He is unknown.

Biden is a household name - Sanders became known running against Hillary, EW has been around a pretty long time and has name recognition.

Once Pete becomes more well known on a national stage his numbers will continue to rise. He is starting to spend time and money down south. He will start to be known and if he wins Iowa & NH the amount of media coverage that brings can catapult a candidate.

At this point I would say Biden is still the clear favorite but the only person I see that has a chance to over take Biden is Pete.

unfortunately people are scared off on Sanders & Warren.

But people are looking for someone else than Biden because he is a horrible campaigner. He isn't good at debates and his stump speeches are a snooze fest. People are only supporting him because they think he can beat Trump. If Pete starts winning and is taking serious he can flip those people that are supporting Biden. Just needs to show he can win

[BeyondGeography]

12. Because they don't know him, it's that simple

Pete’s big hope is that Biden is a much weaker front runner than HRC was in 2008. But if Biden is still standing after the first three states, Pete will be competing on much more challenging terrain than Obama was. Pete has chosen the moderate lane, and even if you think the progs are scary they will soak up a lot of votes between them, including younger voters who swung to Obama in 2008. That leaves Pete with a lot of 3rd and 4th place scenarios from SC on.

Pete’s on the record as counting on Biden imploding. If he does, it’s a different conversation. If not, Pete won’t win.

[LeftTurn3623]

18. 2 things

1. Biden is much weaker than HRC a lot weaker
2. Biden imploding is probably high odds.


If EW would have just stayed away from the medicare for all. She should have said what Pete has been saying. The goal is to get there but the country might not be ready - lets get a public option now and try for medicare for all once the public sees its working



If EW would have just done this she would be running away with the nominee. I dont think she counting on other Dems using republican talking points against her. Its really hurt her campaign. I still think Warren would be the best person for real change. But that one issue is killing her.

your reason on Pete about not knowing him is my point why I think he can win. If he wins those first 2 states, people will get to know him. Fund raising will go up and the momentum could carry him to high place finishes in NV & SC. Look at Iowa. The more people hear Biden the less they like him - the more they hear Pete the more they like him.

[BannonsLiver]

17. Unlikely.

[Skya Rhen]

3. Seems to me as if Pete is in Warren's way - he is the one who knocked her off her frontrunner status

[BeyondGeography]

4. And yet, Biden is the one attacking Pete by name

[crazytown]

6. For all of Biden's avuncular image,

his campaign has been sharp. Pete 'stole' Biden's healthcare plan, Warren's is "double-talk" "she's making it up".

[BeyondGeography]

7. And the, "I got you that job!" riff...but Uncle Joe is more cuddly than cantankerous, right?

He does have a temper and he showed it yesterday. He shouldn't be giving interviews at the end of a long day.

[ms liberty]

8. Did he actually say that to Warren? When was it, please!

I haven't been watching the debates or these early keruffles.

[BeyondGeography]

9. Pretty much...He said he got her the votes

And his method of delivery left a lot to be desired:

Link to tweet

[ms liberty]

11. Oh dear. That's not a good look for him

And I say that as someone who loves Joe, and has loved Joe for many many years. He's been in my top three or four in this primary season.

[Skya Rhen]

14. Strange - after this exchange, Warren's downward spiral began. Proves how bad she came off.

[BeyondGeography]

16. What a silly thing for a smart person like you to say

That was the Gang up on Warren/MFA debate. The coverage of this exchange was mostly favorable to Warren, especially compared with the MFA fallout. But you knew that.

[judeling]

13. That was Klobuchar

Which is a testament to his skill. He stands just out of the line of fire but is there for the aftermath.

I cannot think of any point where he has driven the debate.

[treestar]

15. One person named Trachta

sure.

LOL. Biden is in difficult days. Sort of like how Dotard admits to impeachable offenses but how does that hurt the Democrats?