Fri, August 2, 2024
When Pete Buttigieg launched his presidential bid in the spring of 2019, he acknowledged that — at least on paper — he didn’t strike the image of a winning candidate.
“I recognize the audacity of doing this as a Midwestern millennial mayor,” he told the crowd in his hometown of South Bend, Indiana, which he led for two four-year terms. “More than a little bold, at age 37, to seek the highest office in the land.”
Five years later, Buttigieg is once again in the running for one of the highest offices, against a field with much longer resumes jostling to join Kamala Harris on the Democratic ticket.
That he’s made it to this point speaks to the strength of his appeal among Democrats, bolstered by years of well-received media appearances and viral moments in congressional hearings. But it also demonstrates the durability of the movement he built as a presidential candidate — particularly online — that propelled him to a narrow victory in the Iowa caucuses and a close second-place finish in the New Hampshire primary.
“I think what we’re seeing here is an extension of the support, the excitement and the base from his presidential run,” said George Hornedo, a Democratic strategist and Buttigieg’s 2020 deputy national political director. “They’ve stayed ready, and they’ve been supportive of the many things Pete’s been doing in the administration.”
Buttigieg has continued to build his brand as a Democrat willing to talk to anyone, anywhere — including Fox News — even as transportation secretary. His digital army has kept track, amplifying department initiatives and congressional hearings.
Over the past few days, as speculation over who Harris will pick for her running mate has surged, Buttigieg’s supporters have amplified clips from the wave of media appearances he’s done to promote Harris’ campaign and to mobilize on her behalf.
Buttigieg isn’t the only politician to exit a Democratic presidential primary with an enduring army of online super fans. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders’ grassroots supporters continued to propel him long after his 2016 campaign, and the 2020 campaign birthed Andrew Yang’s “Yang Gang.” Harris’ “K-Hive” formed before she ran for president and has spent the years since the 2020 election hyping her wins and defending her record.
“Team Pete” didn’t disappear, but the “veepstakes” reactivated his supporters, said Mike Schmuhl, Buttigieg’s 2020 campaign manager.
“Joe Biden making this incredible, selfless, historic decision created this explosion of energy for Kamala Harris in the Democratic Party, but it’s also created a mini campaign for who’s going to be her running mate,” he said. “And I think that these folks are just passionate about Pete.”
On Thursday evening, a few hundred supporters gathered on a “Team Pete for Kamala Harris” Zoom, one of several affinity group-based fundraising calls, to bond over their appreciation of the secretary and raise money for the vice president. The call included several of Buttigieg’s top 2020 endorsers, including mayors and local election officials, and organizers. Attendees agreed to follow the “rules of the road,” the 10 principles that guided Buttigieg’s presidential bid, and “no VP talk!”
The call raised about $16,000 for the Harris campaign, according to Joseph Guarino, a call organizer who hosted “Team Pete” debate watch parties in New York City during the 2020 campaign.
“Our event was in no way affiliated with Pete Buttigieg in any way, nor did he provide instruction or inspiration in any form,” Guarino said in an email. “Just some grassroots enthusiasts looking to flex their muscles for Kamala Harris.”
Harris is expected to make her decision by Tuesday, when she and her running mate will hold a rally in Philadelphia. Among the candidates she is considering, Buttigieg is not considered a top contender on the level of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, CNN reported this week.
This week, though, he joined the list of vice presidential hopefuls to cancel a planned event with limited explanation. Buttigieg toured a manufacturing training labs at a community college in Kokomo, Indiana, on Friday and spoke with reporters, but a Department of Transportation spokesperson said he would no longer be hosting a roadway safety roundtable later in the day due to “unforeseen scheduling constraints.”
Asked Friday if he could explain what those conflicts were, Buttigieg responded, “No.”
Buttigieg is among the contenders expected to meet with Harris over the weekend, either virtually or in person, as she nears a decision, a source familiar with the vetting process told CNN.
Effective communicator
The former mayor’s fans and allies frequently refer to him as the most effective communicator in the Democratic party and praise his ability to break down Republican arguments in a plainspoken manner. They reject the idea that America isn’t ready for a major-party ticket featuring both a Black woman and the first out gay vice presidential pick.
Rep. Pat Ryan, a New York Democrat who supports Buttigieg, brought up the topic, calling it “incredibly frustrating.”
“I harken back to serving in combat,” he said. “We didn’t care if the person next to us was gay or straight, whether they were male or female, Black or White, whatever their religion was. We cared about getting the job done. And clearly that’s what Secretary Buttigieg is about.”
Ryan, who is facing a competitive reelection race in upstate New York, was among the first House Democrats to call for Biden to step aside. He’s since publicly backed Buttigieg for Harris’ running mate.
“It’s an existential situation to stop (Donald) Trump and MAGA and all he stands for, so my decision to call on Biden was really grounded in that,” Ryan told CNN. “It’s the same rationale that drove me to to say that I think Secretary Buttigieg would be the strongest teammate, with Vice President Harris, to make clear what the threat is.”
But some also acknowledge that, if the debate centers around battleground math, the Indiana native doesn’t bring as much to the ticket as rivals like Shapiro. (Though Buttigieg switched his residency to his husband’s home state of Michigan a few years ago, he’s never run for office there.)
“I think if you left it up to the delegates, he’d be a shoo-in,” said Virginia Rep. Don Beyer, an early 2020 Buttigieg endorser who knocked on doors in Iowa for his campaign. “But I completely respect that Vice President Harris has to make a decision based on what helps her win the most Electoral College votes. And I don’t know that that’s Pete.”
Nina Smith, a traveling press secretary for the Buttigieg 2020 campaign, pointed to his work as transportation secretary promoting the administration’s policies as she made the case for him. While she’d like to see him chosen, the mini campaign around the possible picks had showcased a broad range of candidates.
“It’s kind of delightful, as a Democratic operative, to look and see how deep of a bench we have,” Smith said.
And if it doesn’t work out this time, there’s always next time.
“I definitely think in my lifetime he will be on a ticket,” said Brandon Neal, a Democratic strategist and senior adviser to the 2020 campaign. “There’s no doubt about it. It’s just a matter of when.”
This story has been updated with additional reporting.
CNN’s Jamie Gangel and Ali Main contributed to this report.
Thu, August 1, 2024
Actor Kal Penn said he thinks Vice President Harris should choose Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as her running mate in the upcoming election.
Penn wrote in an Esquire piece that Harris has “a once-in-a-generation shot at choosing an expert communicator and campaigner who can litigate her case quickly and effectively, all while bringing in new voters.”
“She should choose Pete Buttigieg as her running mate,” concluded Penn, the “Harold & Kumar” star who worked in the Obama administration.
In his op-ed, Penn said former President Obama won the presidency twice in part because he was able to “raise policy expectations and expand the electorate” by reaching younger voters.
“That’s where, in 2024, Pete Buttigieg comes in,” he argued. “A son of the Midwest, Buttigieg is a former Rust Belt Mayor, a polyglot, and a Navy veteran, and for the past three and a half years, he has served as secretary of transportation.”
Buttigieg has been floated as a potential running mate for Harris and been on talk show after talk show in recent weeks making the case for her campaign.
Several other people have been rumored to be on Harris’s shortlist, including Govs. Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.) and Tim Walz (D-Minn.) and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), among others.
Penn argued that Buttigieg is already known among voters and donors across the country but that his real strength lies in his ability to speak and debate.
“Buttigieg’s regular media interviews and viral congressional testimonies exemplify what an unafraid, sharply skilled leader he is. We shouldn’t underestimate the potential of this,” Penn wrote. “Against manufactured chaos, he outlines policy and dismisses bad-faith questions without absolving his opponents of lessons in moral clarity.”
Penn argued that Buttigieg can handle questions meant to put him in a bind with a smile and “an intellectual shiv.”
The actor said the stakes in this election have never been higher. With President Biden passing the torch to Harris, it’s an opportunity for a new generation to lead, Penn said.
“Vice President Harris should choose Pete Buttigieg because he raises the bar on the conversations we ought to be having on the direction of our country. I hope she does. It’s the winning ticket,” he concluded.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Updated Thu, August 1, 2024
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg dropped one reason Project 2025, the far-right presidential transition plan, is “wildly unpopular” on Wednesday.
“So much so that I’m pretty sure it is the first time in modern history that a presidential candidate has had to disavow his own policy framework,” Buttigieg told MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace.
Buttigieg’s comments arrive one day after The Heritage Foundation — the conservative think tank that launched Project 2025 — announced the director of the controversial plan, Paul Dans, was stepping down from his role.
Former President Donald Trump has tried to distance himself from Project 2025 and has claimed he knows “nothing about” it despite previously praising the “great group” behind it. His running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), wrote a foreword for The Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts’ upcoming book.
Wallace asked Buttigieg if the Republican nominee meant to pick Vance, a VP choice she referred to as the “human embodiment” of the 900-page policy plan.
Buttigieg, who is reportedly being considered as a potential running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris, explained that the plan was “already” the GOP governing agenda before it occurred to anybody to write it down and call it Project 2025.
“It’s part of the playbook they followed when they were in charge and, therefore, it will unquestionably be their governing agenda again should he get reelected,” Buttigieg said.
He added: “The problem isn’t this thing called Project 2025, the problem is the governing agenda itself. Project 2025 is just the footnotes on what they’re planning to do, which is wildly unpopular with the American people because it’s full of crazy ideas that don’t make any sense.”
“This is the only time in modern history that I've ever seen a presidential candidate run away from his own platform,” Buttigieg said on “The View.
How Pete Buttigieg became the Dems' most ubiquitous TV spokesperson
Grace Eliza Goodwin
Fri, August 2, 2024 at 10:07 AM MDT·4 min read
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How Pete Buttigieg became the Dems' most ubiquitous TV spokesperson
Pete Buttigieg has taken over the airwaves lately, becoming one of the Democrats' best spokespeople.
His versatility and appeal to swing voters are crucial to the party right now.
Buttigieg's media presence has also boosted his popularity on social media.
Ever since Kamala Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee, Pete Buttigieg has been dominating the TV interview circuit.
The Transportation Secretary and former Indiana mayor has appeared on CNN, The Daily Show, MSNBC's "Inside with Jen Psaki," MSNBC's "Deadline White House," and Fox News Sunday just since President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race. He also went on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher two days prior to Biden's bombshell announcement.
The newly fired-up Buttigieg has become the Democrats' best and most ubiquitous spokesperson — not just because he's a great talker who believes in his cause, but also because he has a unique knack for appealing to swing voters and moderates.
And that's exactly what the Democrats need most right now in their race to defeat Donald Trump.
"He's able to hit it out of the park in all of those venues, which are just such unique venues and very different with different audiences," a Democratic strategist who has worked closely with Buttigieg told Business Insider. "But we need to be communicating on all of those platforms if we're going to win."
Partly what makes Buttigieg such an effective communicator for his party is that he's versatile in many ways.
He can talk about climate policy and still relate it to everyday Americans — as he did with Kaitlan Collins on CNN. He can refute JD Vance's argument that childless people aren't committed to the future of the country by bringing up his own experience in the military before he had children — as he did on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. And he can spar with conservatives while calling out data that disproves their criticisms of the economy under Biden — as he did on Fox News.
"It's the fact that every time he comes out to say something, he says something totally different," the Democratic strategist said. "He's not recycling hokey one-liners. He's being authentic and having very genuine moments in every interview, and he's also talking in a way that brings it back to real people, which was always such an amazing skill set of his."
And that ability is what has drawn Democrats to him, the strategist said.
"He's one of the few people in the Democratic Party who has the ability to both go on Fox News and take on bad faith arguments and appeal to the moderate, sway-able voters that we need to win back if we're going to win this election cycle," the strategist added.
Buttigieg has also gained some fame on social media. Several clips of him on Fox News critiquing Trump's track record in office have been shared on multiple TikTok accounts, one of which has already been viewed more than a million times and another more than 600,000 times. A fan account on X, which says it keeps track of "Secretary Buttigieg's wins and best moments," has more than 50,000 followers.
As one Democratic digital strategist, Keith Edwards, told The Hill:
"Pete is an expert at creating viral moments. I don't think he does that on purpose, I just think it's an innate talent he has."
Edwards declined to provide comment for this story.
It's not just TV hosts, Democrats, and social media users who love Buttigieg — voters do too.
An ABC News/Ipsos poll, conducted July 26-27, surveyed Americans about their opinions on nine of the most eligible contenders for Harris' VP position, and Buttigieg tied for second place in terms of net favorability. He was one of only two Democrats on the list, along with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, that a majority of respondents had heard of.
Buttigieg has come a long way from his humble days as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana. He became known to the country as "Mayor Pete" during his unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2020. He made history when, under the Biden administration, he became the first openly LGBTQ member of a president's cabinet. Then, he was considered one of the top options to become Harris' running mate, though that is looking less and less likely as her list narrows.
And now, he's reminding Americans on TV screens around the country what he cares most about: the future of the country.
"Pete Buttigieg cares about America and he understands the stakes in this election," the Democratic strategist told BI. "And even if you don't agree with him, he's someone who you should be open to listening to because he is coming from such a pure and genuine and unique place at a time when our politics is very cynical and stale. And I think that plays into part of the appeal."
Pete Buttigieg visits Milwaukee to highlight port investments, ride Amtrak line
Hope Karnopp and Katherine Loren, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Wed, July 31, 2024
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited Milwaukee Wednesday, highlighting federal investments in the city's port and riding part of the new Amtrak Borealis route with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.
Buttigieg made the trip in his official capacity, rather than as a campaign visit for Vice President Kamala Harris. Buttigieg, who ran in the Democratic presidential primary in 2020, is considered a potential running mate for Harris.
Speaking at the Port of Milwaukee on Lake Michigan, Buttigieg emphasized his Midwestern roots. He said it was "personally rewarding to be back here."
"I am very much a creature of the Great Lakes. I grew up in northern Indiana," Buttigieg said. "Chicago is the city that brought me and my husband together. I should mention that he went to school in Eau Claire and he's very nostalgic about his days living and working in Milwaukee. And now we live in northern Michigan where he grew up. Anything that affects the Great Lakes is close to my heart."
Where did Pete Buttigieg speak in Milwaukee today?
Buttigieg had two events in Milwaukee Wednesday. He spoke at the Port of Milwaukee in the morning and rode the new Amtrak Borealis line in the afternoon.
Buttigieg's visit is part of tour of Great Lakes ports in Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. He was in Menominee Harbor and Manitowoc earlier this week.
What is Amtrak's new Borealis line, and where does it go?
In the afternoon, Buttigieg joined Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to ride a Hiawatha train, which forms part of the new Borealis Amtrak route. They rode from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport to the Milwaukee Intermodal Station to highlight passenger rail expansion.
"It really matters to have a governor and state leadership that understand the importance of infrastructure. It makes our federal dollars go a lot further," Buttigieg said.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers traveled from Mitchell International Airport to the Milwaukee Intermodel Station aboard Amtrack's Hiawatha train on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Milwaukee.
The Borealis line debuted in May 2024 and saw 18,500 passengers in its first full month. The 12-stop passenger train runs from Chicago to St. Paul, with eight stops in Wisconsin, including downtown Milwaukee, the Milwaukee airport and Wisconsin Dells. The full trip takes a little over seven hours, and fare starts at $41 each way. Amenities like food and Wi-Fi are available onboard.
Planning for the rail service has been underway since 2015. The passenger train is intended to boost the regional economy and increase tourism by connecting key cities in the Midwest.
Madison has also been identified as a "key market" for future passenger rail service, and a station there could be operational by 2031. Eight locations are under consideration for Madison's Amtrak station.
"It's down the road," Evers said, pointing out that new tracks will have to be built to accommodate the speed of passenger rail.
Why was Pete Buttigieg at Milwaukee's port?
Buttigieg visited the Port of Milwaukee to highlight federal funding — more than $9 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — that helped upgrade its agricultural export facilities. Buttigieg toured the facilities with local officials including Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg spaks at DeLong Co. in the Port of Milwaukee as part of the Secretary’s Great Lakes Ports tour in Milwaukee on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
"What you see here is the kind of investment that the Biden-Harris administration has prioritized," Johnson said. "Partnerships with the administration — they saved this city. They saved Milwaukee from fiscal disaster."
Buttigieg praised Johnson for his work as a mayor, saying he "(knows) what it's like to be small-city mayor knocking on the door of the U.S. DOT." Buttigieg said he would meet with Johnson later in the day to talk about ideas the federal government could support.
Local officials emphasized the port is a public-private partnership, with funding coming from the City of Milwaukee, the state of Wisconsin, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the DeLong Co. The port allows farmers to export commodities that aren't suited for container ships and upright storage, Buttigieg said.
"So many Americans, when they think about ports and supply chains, they picture those ocean ports on our coasts," Buttigieg said. "What we love best is to see opportunities to sell our products to the rest of the world and bring that income to our workers and to our farmers and to our communities, right here in America's heartland."
More: Port Milwaukee and DeLong Company break ground on new agricultural export facility
Could Pete Buttigieg become the next VP?
Buttigieg is one of several names being floated to join Harris on the ticket as vice president. Other running mate contenders include Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly from Arizona, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Buttigieg has risen in the Democratic party after running for president in 2020 and serving as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, where he earned the nickname "Mayor Pete." President Joe Biden named Buttigieg the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, becoming the first openly gay Cabinet secretary to be confirmed by the Senate.
Buttigieg did not take questions about his interest in becoming vice president. His trip to Wisconsin this week was in his official capacity, not to campaign for Harris. The Hatch Act prohibits mixing campaign activity with official duties.
Buttigieg praised the Biden-Harris administration for a "remarkable comeback" compared to a "manufacturing recession" under former President Donald Trump's administration. President Joe Biden earlier this year visited Mount Pleasant to highlight investments in Microsoft and contrast the Foxconn deal championed by Trump.
"Enough of the big factory announcements that never led to anything," Buttigieg said.
What did Republicans say about Pete Buttigieg's visit?
In a call with reporters Tuesday morning, state Republican officials rejected the idea that Buttigieg wasn't coming to Wisconsin for political reasons, calling his visit a "taxpayer-funded trip for the secretary to come out and audition for vice president."
"The Democrat vice presidential Olympics have come to Wisconsin, and are in Green Bay and Milwaukee," Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming said. "Posturing Pete is posturing for a reason, because he's looking at the end of his career if he doesn't tag onto this ticket."
Asked about federal grants for infrastructure that Buttigieg is highlighting in Wisconsin, U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil said "logical investments in our state infrastructure is a positive thing."
"(The) concern that all of us have with the Biden-Harris administration is the overall amount of reckless spending," he said. "When you see the secretary come in, he's going to cherry-pick key investments. What he's not going to do is highlight the number of flawed investments that his administration is trying to shove through, in particular electric vehicle charging stations, the inability of the FAA to operate efficiently."
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Pete Buttigieg stops in Milwaukee to highlight port, Amtrak route
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