Mayor Pete blindsides Kamala Harris in California

[left-of-center2012]

California Democrats, especially those with ties to the influential LGBTQ and Hollywood communities, are finding themselves torn between a home-state senator they love, Kamala Harris, and an out-of-state suitor who has suddenly captured their attention, Pete Buttigieg.

His rapid rise, appeal to millennial voters and newfound popularity among Hollywood and Silicon Valley donors stands to hinder her ability to lock down her backyard. And it could enable the 37-year-old mayor to net a solid cache of delegates from Harris’ home state — perhaps even more than he can capture in early voting states like Nevada or Iowa.

Democratic strategist Garry South says “I think the amazing thing is that nobody is ceding California to Kamala Harris ... no one is abandoning California to the native daughter — which tells you something. Why would he come out here and spend four days if he thought she had California locked up?“

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who presides over one of the country’s most lucrative Democratic fundraising ATMs, hasn’t yet endorsed in the crowded 2020 presidential race. He freely admits experiencing some angst over the situation.
“I love Kamala Harris, she’s a dear friend,’’ he says of the former state attorney general, who has scheduled a dizzying round of fundraisers in the state next week.

But, Garcetti notes, Buttigieg “is one of my closest mayor friends.”
Garcetti will appear at a Thursday event with Buttigieg that will bring together union activists from the teachers, carpenters and Service Employees International Union — all bastions of Democratic support in California. Buttigieg is also scheduled to attend packed fundraisers hosted by some of the city’s LGBTQ and Hollywood royalty during his upcoming visit to the state this week.

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/09/buttigieg-california-donors-1313119

[crazytown]

1. The headline in Politico clickbait

The copy is rather different. Some Harris donors are giving to Pete as well.

Campaign fundraising records show Harris has far eclipsed Buttigieg in raising money from Californians, hauling in more than $4 million compared with roughly $522,000 for the Indiana mayor during the first quarter of 2019, a period in which candidates were rolling out campaigns and introducing themselves to voters.

Still, dozens of Californians hedged their bets and gave to both candidates. Among the double-dippers were television writer-producers Michael Schur and Marlene King, Facebook executive Naomi Gleit and Playboy scion Cooper Hefner.

[left-of-center2012]

4. not what the article says ???

I posted quotes from the article ...
so, yes ...
that is what the article says.

[crazytown]

7. Have edited my comment

The editor is Politico. As per usual they misrepresent the material for clicks.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I don't get how that's "blindsiding."

Any candidate can campaign in any state; that isn't blindsiding the candidate from that state. Harris doesn't "own" California (disclaimer: I like both candidates, not trying to slam or promote either of them), and anybody who wants those primary votes is certainly entitled to go after them.

[Merlot]

3. It's just more sexism in reporting.

[KPN]

5. What? Ridiculous headline. If this isn't this meant to stir crap up,

please consider changing the title you posted. I realize this is the word Politico used, but it totally misrepresents things and the story itself does not relate that "he blindsided her."

She may in fact be blindsided by the reception Buttigieg's gotten in CA, but the term as it is used is a pejorative and implies he did something nefarious or sneaky to her -- which is absolutely not the case as even the article itself shows.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. They could have used the word "surprised."

Which is apparently what really happened, and there's nothing wrong with saying Harris' campaign was surprised at the amount of support Buttigieg seems to be picking up. But blindsided unfairly implies something underhanded.

[KPN]

14. Yup -- but being Politico, they didn't. Click bait does a national disservice again.

[MineralMan]

6. Interestingly enough, this article essentially ignores Joe Biden in California.

What about Biden? How's he doing there?

Well, here's how he's doing. He just picked up $700,000 in donations at one fundraiser there.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287112635

[crazytown]

8. $700K for one event?

Not too badly I’d say.

[MineralMan]

10. It was a Hollywood fundraiser, with about 300 people showing up.

Most of the donations were for the $2800 maximum, but there were some smaller ones, starting at $500. Money stacks up fast when the checks are for those numbers.

Kamala Harris is popular in California, since she won a statewide office, but she's not a true celebrity politician like Joe Biden is. Still, she'd make an outstanding VP nominee for Biden. I can't honestly think of a better choice for him for the general election. She's a great speaker and, as a black woman, she fills all the demographic categories a Democratic candidate needs to win.

Besides, I don't see any personality clashing between her and Biden. Harris is running for President, but I'd be willing to bet a pile of money that she's also thinking about the VP spot at the same time. Being VP is another good road to the White House.

[crazytown]

11. Yes, I was saying Biden is doing well.

Harris is a prosecutor. Biden is a law and order hawk. It’s a match.

[MineralMan]

12. OK.

[crazytown]

13. DSB said it best

‘The only person who can defeat Joe is Joe’. The money, the connections, the goodwill is all there.

I am enjoying watching his campaign climb into the stratosphere. All but the most partisan player would be.

[brush]

15. The electability factor is going to play big for Dems in 2020

Last edited Sat May 11, 2019, 01:08 AM - Edit history (1)

Some of our candidates are and some aren't. Let's be real about the country we live in.

[JI7]

16. there is no blindsiding. she knows she will have to do well in earlier

races to win. and California likes their people to stay in office a long time like Feinstein, Jerry brown. Harris is pretty new compared to how long they have been in office.

[marlakay]

17. I like them both

They are my top two and sometimes I go back and forth on which one I like more.

I love her for her strength and the way she can take on bullies without lowing herself to being like them, and I love him for his gentle strength and courage along with intelligence and youthful outlook to save our planet for the future.