Biden Hits Buttigieg: ‘This Guy’s Not A Barack Obama’

Former Vice President Joe Biden uncharacteristically took a jab at former mayor of South Bend Indiana, Peter Buttigieg, ahead of the New Hampshire primaries. 

After finishing fourth in Iowa, the pressure on Biden’s campaign has grown immensely. Right now, Bernie Sanders and Buttigieg are competing for the lead in the polls in New Hampshire, while Biden is steadily falling behind. 

On Saturday in Manchester, New Hampshire, Biden unfavorably compared Buttigieg to former President Barack Obama, saying, “I do not believe we’re a party at risk if they nominate me, and I do believe we’re a party at risk if we nominate someone who’s never held a higher office than mayor of South Bend, Indiana.”

He told reporters that Buttigieg’s suggestions often crirticise Obama-era policies. When asked about whether or not his attacks on Buttigieg’s experience were comparable to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s criticisms of then-Senator Obama’s resume during the 2008 primaries, he responded, “Oh, come on, man! This guy’s not a Barack Obama!”

Stakes are high in Tuesday’s primaries in New Hampshire for all candidates. If Buttigieg manages to beat Sanders in the polls as he did in Iowa, he will be seen by many as the leading candidate of the DNC, replacing other moderate candidates such as Biden and Senator Amy Klobuchar. 

If Sanders manages to secure the win in New Hampshire, he’ll have an advantage over other liberal candidates, such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and will be one step closer to being the Democratic Party nominee. 

For Biden, if he loses in New Hampshire as he did in Iowa, his chances of winning in Nevada and South Carolina could fall apart. 

In attempts to slow down Buttigieg, Biden’s campaign aides released a disparaging web ad comparing Buttigieg’s experience as former mayor to Biden’s experiences in the White House and Senate, saying Buttigieg, “revitalized the sidewalks of downtown South Bend by laying out decorative brick.”

The ad went viral online, causing a staff member of Biden’s campaign to brag that it had gained more views than the population of South Bend. 

This prompted a response from Buttigieg’s campaign. Chris Meagher, a spokesman for Mr. Buttigieg, said, “The vice president’s decision to run this ad speaks more to where he currently stands in this race than it does about Pete’s perspective as a mayor and veteran.”