Warren Goes After Buttigieg After Slipping in Polls

[question everything]

WATERLOO, Iowa—Democrats have an expression for the times when this state has flirted with backing liberals before settling on moderate presidential candidates: “Date Dean, marry Kerry.” The adage refers to the 2004 caucuses, when then-Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts defeated that year’s progressive sensation, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.

Now, some supporters of moderates Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg think the same transition is happening, as the liberal candidate who rose in recent months, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, has lost steam in polls in the state. The movement has resulted in a more aggressive stance by Ms. Warren, especially toward Mr. Buttigieg, the South Bend, Ind., mayor who has recently moved to the top of polls in the first two states to hold nominating contests, Iowa and New Hampshire. The dynamic is also pitting Mr. Biden, the former vice president, against Mr. Buttigieg, as Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar vies for the center, too. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders also ranks in the top tier in polls here.

(snip)

Ms. Warren’s drop in polling here has come after a period of debate over her Medicare for All proposal, with more-moderate rivals arguing that it is too expensive and that many Americans don’t want a government health-care overhaul that eliminates private insurance. Ms. Warren says she can pay for the insurance expansion without raising taxes on the middle class, a claim Mr. Biden has repeatedly challenged.

(snip)

Mr. Biden has suggested that Mr. Buttigieg would offer the party a risk, telling voters that the country can’t afford a president who needs “on-the-job training.” Interviews with likely Iowa caucus-goers at Mr. Biden’s events last week showed that many of his supporters are skeptical that Ms. Warren or Mr. Sanders could beat President Trump.

(snip)

Dee Dee Collins, a 66-year-old retired community-college coordinator, said she is trying to decide between Mr. Biden and Mr. Buttigieg. Earlier in the year, she said, she was more interested in Ms. Warren. “Medicare for All turns me off,” she said. “If we could afford it, great, but I don’t think there is a way to pay for it.”

https://www.wsj.com/articles/warren-goes-after-buttigieg-after-slipping-in-polls-11575806401 (paid subscription)

[LakeArenal]

1. I don't think attacking Dem opponents is a good strategy.

But that just me. Some folks call it vetting.
I call it not promoting Repuke bs.

[BeyondGeography]

3. This sounds like an attack

Biden: Buttigieg 'doesn't have significant black support even in his own city'

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/473609-biden-buttigieg-doesnt-have-significant-black-support-even-in-his-own-city

[The Valley Below]

5. Not a good tactic for Joe Biden, either.

[redstatebluegirl]

2. This is what the GOP wants, for us to eat each other alive.

Spend all of our money to fight each other so we are broke once the general election season begins. We really need to pare down this large number of candidates, and stop going after each other.

[The Valley Below]

4. Not sure about elsewhere, but here in CA Sen. Warren will cause herself damage going after Buttigieg

in my estimation if it gets beyond simply pointing out their policy differences. If this spat gets personal, she will lose.

That would be bad for her and bad for the party.

[blm]

7. It wasn't bad when Biden, Buttigieg targeted Warren for the last 3months.

It’s just wrong when Warren aims back at them.

[The Valley Below]

8. He hit her on policies. Fair game. Both ways.

If Warren fights back on policy differences, no problem. That's politics. Go for it.

But if this heads toward personal smears it will do her (and the party) tremendous harm.

I know many (many) CA Democrats who like both Warren and Buttigieg a great deal. A personal battle would be really destructive to party unity. I pray it doesn't happen.

[FreeState]

9. Agreed

I am part of a group where I am the youngest (50 yrs). The rest are all in their 50's and 60's. Each and everyone of them loves Pete and would lose interest in Warren should it go personal (I've seen the group go from 2 for Pete and 8 for Elizabeth to 4 for Pete, 4 for Warren and 2 undecided over the last month - mostly do to M4A strategy*).

*They relate overwhelmingly to Petes plan of step by step and not all in at once.

[blm]

11. They mischaracterized her personal attitude as 'it's my way or the highway'.

That was an attack on her demeanor that she did not deserve.

And Biden’s camp even smeared her as dishonest.

Warren has never said that hers is the ONLY policy position Democrats can take.

Warren is not a dishonest person.

[The Valley Below]

12. To be fair, Warren was criticized on her MFA plans after she said she'd eliminate private insurance.

That was a miscalculation of both the national mood and the mood of the party. Others were able to make hay. I can't blame them for that. The "lack of choice" in her (original) plan was too ripe not to be exploited by rivals.

That's fair in my estimation.

Warren should not be smeared as dishonest as that's clearly the opposite of the truth. It isn't OK in any measure.

Warren's positivity, energy, and gift for connecting with voters by weaving her personal story with her policy positions is her greatest strength IMO.

If this goes into the mud, I'm afraid the positive feelings that many here have for Warren--even among supporters of other candidates who really like her--could change. That would diminish her greatest strength in my estimation.

[blm]

15. So, if WARREN fights back she's MORE toast than the toast

she’d be for not fighting back against the attacks on her by Biden and Buttegieg camps.

Perhaps your grave concern will get through to her camp so they can accept the idea that she’s been warned.

[The Valley Below]

16. I guess you didn't bother to read what I wrote?

[blm]

17. I did. You said if it goes into the mud people will lose

any good feelings they had for her.....so.....

Pete and Joe can keep up their 3month long attacks targeting Warren with no blowback because ....well....that’s just how it is.

[The Valley Below]

18. Wow! Did you read the whole post?

You are simply mischaracterizing.

[blm]

19. It was the last part of your post I'm replying to.

You said some nice things about Warren and then said if it goes in the mud that SHE is the one who will be diminished.......and that means SHE will bear the blame and punishment for the mud - not Pete, not Joe.

[The Valley Below]

20. I hope one of them go in the mud.

Not Joe. Not Pete. Not Liz.

Battle over policies, positions, and ideas. No problem. Fight on.

But if we descend into personal attacks it will be bad for our party and our common desire to defeat Trump.

Clear enough?

[blm]

21. The personal attacks have been on Warren.

For 3 months now.

[Gothmog]

6. Who is surprised by this?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. I'm not surprised, but I am dismayed by it. n/t

[The Valley Below]

13. We've got to stop eating our own.

We need a united party.

[ritapria]

14. Speaking of Polls Latest Morning Consult Poll Just Released

Biden 30%. Bernie 22%. Warren 16% . Buttigieg 9% . Bloomberg 6% . Yang 4% / Early States .Biden 28% Bernie 21% Warren 14% Steyer 9% . Buttigieg 9% .Yang 4% . From Real Clear Politics Opinion Research : Biden 30% Sanders 23% Warren 12% Buttigieg 6% Harris 4% Yang 4%