The Buttigieg backlash is beginning
It was bound to happen sometime.
South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who has emerged as a serious contender in the Democratic presidential primaries, had it easy for a while there — people fawned over his ability to speak eight languages and his Harvard University and military pedigree. His hopeful messaging has also resonated with many, who view Buttigieg's rhetoric as a welcome reprieve from the divisive nature of contemporary American politics.
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Many of Buttigieg's left-wing critics, the Times writes, are also wary of Buttigieg's campaign strategy of building bridges between coastal elites and America's heartland, thinking it could be nothing more than a "trick." Instead, they argue he's just another meritocrat seeking political power. Indeed, Buttigieg has faced criticism for an urban redevelopment plan he initiated in South Bend, Indiana, which resulted in the loss of homes for black and Latino communities. And his stance that incarcerated felons should remain unable to vote garnered further skepticism, especially as candidates like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) spoke in favor of the alternative.
Still, there is also the idea that Buttigieg's actual policy stances simply remain unclear at this point and voters want to know what'd he do for them as president. Either way, it's clear that his honeymoon phase has officially ended.
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