The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Buttigieg on defense as rivals for Dem nomination aim to blunt his momentum
DOVER, N.H. — Pete Buttigieg has been on defense all weekend as his Democratic presidential rivals attacked him on everything from his struggle to connect with black voters to accepting campaign contributions from large donors in an effort to blunt any momentum heading into Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who essentially tied with Buttigieg in last week’s Iowa caucuses, blasted the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., for taking contributions from the very wealthy, suggesting Buttigieg won’t stand up to “Wall Street tycoons” or “the corporate elite.” Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren voiced similar criticism, telling ABC’s “This Week“that “the coalition of billionaires is not exactly what’s going to carry us over the top.” Former Vice President Joe Biden told the same program that Buttigieg hasn’t been able to “unify the black community.“
The volley of criticism Sunday was fresh evidence that Buttigieg, who was virtually unknown in national politics a year ago, has become an early front-runner in the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination. The developments usher in a new phase of the campaign that will test how Buttigieg responds to the pressure, especially as the contest moves to more racially diverse states where he has struggled to gain traction.
Buttigieg hit back at Biden, who on Saturday lamented comparisons between the former mayor and former President Barack Obama.
“Oh, come on, man,“Biden told reporters. “This guy’s not a Barack Obama.”
“Well, he’s right, I’m not,” Buttigieg responded on CNN’s “State of the Union.““And neither is he. Neither is any of us running for president.”
He later offered an oblique critique of Sanders’ combative call for revolution.
“Let’s remember we’re facing the most divisive president of our time, which is why we can’t risk dividing Americans further,” Buttigieg told more than 1,800 people at an event in Nashua.
Later in Dover, he declared himself the candidate on the rise. “We are the campaign with the strongest momentum in the state of New Hampshire, thanks to you,” he told a crowd of several hundred.
While responding to some of the attacks, Buttigieg didn’t escalate any feuds on Sunday. That could help him maintain the energy of his optimistic Iowa campaign in which he portrayed himself as above the Washington fray.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump was looking to get under Democrats’ skin Monday with a rally in New Hampshire on the eve of the state’s first-in-the-nation primaries. He also aimed to put on a show of force foreshadowing GOP strength in November’s general election.