Pete Buttigieg Shifts Strategy To Attack Bernie Sanders’ Platform

Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg went after Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Saturday, attacking his campaign as an “inflexible, ideological revolution.”

Buttigieg’s comments came after Sanders easily won the Nevada caucuses, further solidifying his first place lead.

“I believe the best way to defeat Donald Trump and deliver for the American people is to broaden and galvanize the majority that supports us on the critical issues,” Buttigieg said at his caucus day watch party. “Sen. Sanders believes in an inflexible ideological revolution that leaves out most Democrats, not to mention most Americans.”

Buttigieg criticized Sanders for his seemingly exclusive platform, trying to separate himself as a moderate candidate that would unify the party.

“We can prioritize either ideological purity or inclusive victory. We can either call people names online or we can call them into our movement,” Buttigieg said. “We can either tighten a narrow and hardcore base or open the tent to a new and broad and big-hearted American coalition.”

He also noted that his campaign “is the only campaign that has beaten Sen. Sanders anywhere in the country,” referencing the Iowa caucuses in which he virtually tied with Sanders, but received one more delegate than him.

During the Democratic debate on Wednesday, Buttigieg took a jab at the Vermont senator, noting that he identifies as an independent, not a Democrat.

“Let’s put forward somebody who’s actually a Democrat,” Buttigieg said.

His sudden onslaught of verbal attacks against the senator began because “the race is really coming into focus,” he told CNN. “That is why these contrasts are very important for folks to think through and understand.”