Thoughts on Buttigieg 2020?

[D_Master81]

South Bend mayor, Pete Buttigieg briefly made a splash a couple years ago when he made a run for the DNC chair. Today he announced that he will not be seeking a 3rd term as mayor, setting up speculation that he is beginning the process of making a run for the White House in 2020. With no open Senate race it would only seem that this could be the case since South Bend has been pretty neutered by the GOP in the state, as the House district is considered "safe GOP" by 538, so I cant see him making a run there. Intriguing candidate as he's in his 30's. The main thing that will swirl around his campaign should he run will be the "Is America ready for a gay President?" meme. I like him as mayor, think he needs some time yet before making the jump to the highest office, but will be interesting to see where his campaign goes should he declare.

[snowybirdie]

1. He's been an excellent mayor, but

don't think he's got the national stature to make much of a dent. Needs more time and national experience. And our right wing "friends" would be positively apoplectic with his husband in the White House! A future leader? Yes!

[bearsfootball516]

2. Like him, but don't think he'll beat out the big names come primary time.

[MineralMan]

3. Nobody with an unpronounceable last name will ever be elected President.

Take it to the bank. Worse, if that name has the word "butt" imbedded in it, that's a sure-fire guarantee of losing.

[dalton99a]

9. +1.

[Denzil_DC]

14. I at first thought somebody with the middle name Hussein

and a surname that rhymed with Osama had no chance.

[Retrograde]

4. Couldn't Indiana use a Democratic senator?

Do they have one up for 2020? That would be a better fit, IMHO.

[smirkymonkey]

5. I'm sorry, but that name is a major liability.

I can see the jokes now. I know it has nothing to do with his fitness for office, but it will almost certainly impair his electability.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

6. Mayor of a town of 100,000-- that's the weekend gate at Wrigley Field.

[OliverQ]

7. Can we please stop adding more names to the already ridiculous list of Democratic options?

There are currently 34 people considering running in 2020. That's absurd. We don't need a mayor who lost his election in the running right now. A lot of people don't even think Beto has enough experience, much less Buttigieg.

[NewJeffCT]

10. His name has been bandied about for a while now

that said, I think he's still too young to make the leap from mayor of a small city to president.

[NewJeffCT]

8. Big leap from a small city

to become president, especially at 36 years old. Definitely has long term potential. Could be a nice choice for a Cabinet position to groom him for something in the future? (would a gay man from South Bend have a chance at statewide office in Indiana?)

At least Eric Garcetti from LA has presided over a very large city

[OnDoutside]

11. There was a time that America would never accept a Barack Hussein Obama...I wouldn't worry about

Buttigieg. Let's see how he would do in debates. That said, he should really have some national experience.

[mcar]

12. I have read several times on this board that being a Mayor

is not enough experience to run for president. Said when I and others have wondered why the big push for Beto (who I like very much) but not for Andrew Gillum.

[BannonsLiver]

13. There's a reason for that

O’Rourke served in the highest echelon of our govt. structure, the federal level. Mayors are municipal positions which is the lowest rung. I couldn’t care less if Buttigeg or Gillum run in 2020. I lean towards the more the merrier. But we shouldn’t pretend the jobs are the same.

[Vinca]

15. Thoughts on who?

He'll have a mountain to climb just to get name recognition.