Mayor Buttigieg sees surge in polling numbers after Dem debate, especially in Iowa
by Selina Guevara, WSBT 22 Reporter
Thursday, October 17th 2019
South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg is seeing a surge in presidential poll numbers after this week's fourth Democratic debate, especially in Iowa.
He's been polling in the single digits, but a new Emerson poll shows Iowa voters put him at 16 percent, third behind only Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren.
Doing well in Iowa is significant because it's one of the first states to vote, setting the tone for Democratic primaries.
The Buttigieg campaign has also seen a surge in fundraising. He's raised more money than Biden -- including more than a million dollars in the 24 hours following the debate.
Local voters are saying the Pete Buttigieg we saw on the stage Tuesday is a new side, more aggressive than before.
“He's so articulate and on point,” said Rita Dargis, who has lived in South Bend since 1973. “I could certainly look to him as a very good opposing candidate to our current president because I don't think he would stand for any guff, basically.”
IU South Bend political science professor Elizabeth Bennion says one moment stood out to her.
“The fact that Pete Buttigieg as a veteran was able to stand up on the stage and take such a decisive position and tone on the Syria withdraw made him look presidential,” said Bennion. “It made him look like a possible commander-in-chief.”
Saint Mary's College political science professor Sean Savage thinks Buttigieg could be gaining from the slide of his competitors.
“He also wants to, I think benefit, from Joe Biden's decline,” said Buttigieg. “I think he wants to pick up some of Joe Biden's moderate Democratic supporters, especially with the healthcare issue.”
Both professors say Buttigieg has the most field offices in Iowa and has spent the most time campaigning there, as opposed to other primary states.
“In South Carolina, Mayor Pete hasn't been doing so well among African American voters,” said Savage. “And of course, Iowa is an overwhelmingly white state. And also it's a caucus state, not a primary state, so retail politics, you know, one-on-one campaigning among voters is even more important in Iowa.”
Bennion says the more aggressive approach has its limits.
“I expect that he will be more assertive or aggressive but I imagine that he will be more careful, too, about crossing the line,” said Bennion.
To Bennion, crossing the line would mean moving from policy-based attacks on his competitors to personal ones.
Savage says Buttigieg may be putting himself in the best position for Vice President, since he's so young and has a long political career ahead of him. He could also help balance a ticket of more far left candidates.
http://wsbt.com/news/local/mayor-buttigieg-sees-surge-in-polling-numbers-after-dem-debate-especially-in-iowa
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