What People Are Saying About How Pete Buttigieg Won Last Night’s Debate
“Grade A” … “Buttigieg’s Biggest Night Yet” … “Winner” … “Memorable” ... “Forceful” … “Buttigieg Won The Debate Tonight” … “Buttigieg Seizes His Moment” … “Buttigieg As The Single Standout Performer” … “Remarkable” … “Extraordinary Night” … “Delivered A Forceful Performance” … “Had A Very Good Night”… “Had An Excellent Night” … “Stole The Night”
Boston Globe: Grade: A. This was the single best moment of Buttigieg’s campaign for president. He did well on guns, on impeachment, and particularly on Syria. Buttigieg had been making the argument that he is the centrist where moderate Democrats can go if Biden fails. That came through Tuesday night. In this debate, he added a new layer to his national brand: outsider. He kept referring to how he was from “the industrial Midwest” and how Washington had not solved the problems facing a wide swath of the United States. Buttigieg won the debate.
Politico: Buttigieg won the debate tonight, and Klobuchar came in a close second. Mayor Pete did not shy away from mixing it up with his opponents. He was ready to go after Warren’s health care plan and O’Rourke’s gun plan. As a veteran, he showed not only expertise but also strength in his Syria answer. Buttigieg spent the first months of the presidential primary campaign showing us how smart and steeped in policy he is, and tonight he showed us that he is also a fighter.
NYT: “Buttigieg’s biggest night yet. It was Mr. Buttigieg’s exchange with Ms. Warren over “Medicare for all” that was most memorable, pressing her as she declined to say, yet again, whether her plan would require a middle-class tax increase ... It felt at times on Tuesday as if the sprawling 12-person stage had actually narrowed to a four-person debate, with Ms. Warren and Mr. Sanders representing the left, and Mr. Biden and Mr. Buttigieg representing the center-left. The occasional television shot of just those four served to hammer home the point.”
The Hill: Buttigieg seizes his moment. Buttigieg was the single standout performer on Tuesday. He took the fight to Warren, was prominent in the key early stages of the debate and made his case more broadly as a candidate able to connect with voters beyond the liberal base. Buttigieg has always been an effective television performer, and he has showed startling fundraising strength.
USA Today: Winners: Pete Buttigieg. South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg was also ready to take some of his more progressive competitors to task on their policies. Buttigieg used forceful rhetoric during the debate ... was also able to showcase his experience when talking about foreign policy. “You can put an end to endless war without embracing Donald Trump’s policy,” Buttigieg said. “What we were doing in Syria was keeping our word.”
Washington Blade: South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg delivered a forceful performance during the Democratic debate Tuesday night, demonstrating a rare knack for both rising above the fray and engaging in it [...] Buttigieg engaged with his competitors for the Democratic nomination with a ferocity that showed the passion of his beliefs and desire to build a consensus to get things done.
The Boston Globe: It’s hard to have a stand-out performance on a crowded stage, where a dozen candidates are not just vying for speaking time, but trying for memorable moments. It’s even harder if you aren’t a top tier candidate. And that makes what South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg did on Tuesday all the more remarkable. The minor city mayor made himself a major player by forcefully underlining his pragmatic, results-oriented liberalism, and not just on domestic policy but on foreign affairs as well.
Indianapolis Star: South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg had one of his most memorable debate performances Tuesday [...] Buttigieg differentiated himself from the other candidates by highlighting his military experience when speaking about the withdrawal from Syria. He also used the issue to differentiate himself from Trump.
CNN: The exchanges with Warren over health care might be the night's most memorable.
But he also got a chance to tout an element of his own biography -- his military service -- in clashing with Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, the only other military veteran in the field, over her call to end "endless wars."
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Terry McAuliffe: I think Pete Buttigieg had a very good night. I thought his answer on Syria was the best five minutes of his campaign -- real contrast between Trump's erratic foreign policy and the message that he gave.
David Axelrod: Tonight, he brought something more. On health care, guns and particularly, President Trump’s withdrawal from Syria and the betrayal of our Kurdish allies, Buttigieg, a war veteran who served in Afghanistan, showed genuine edge and passion … Buttigieg needed a spark tonight to help his campaign ignite--and he may have gotten one.
Willie Geist: Mayor Pete Buttigieg, as you said at the top, had an excellent night. One time he shined was during the debate over guns.
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Josh Kraushaar @HotlineJosh: NEW Against the Grain: "Mayor Pete's Moment" "With national security emerging as a growing issue in the election, Buttigieg is one of the few Democrats with credibility on the subject."
George Takei @GeorgeTakei: Very impressed with the performance of @PeteButtigieg at the debate last night, particularly on foreign policy and on middle America. The heartland has a hero, and his name is Mayor Pete
Sean Shaw @SShawFL: @PeteButtigieg made a compelling case as to how he’s ready to lead this country into a new era. His bright policy ideas provide solutions to the problems we face everyday. His message is resonating, and I’m proud to support him. Join me on #TeamPete.
Elex Michaelson @ElexMichaelson: "Mayor Pete had his best, most break out performance!" Our focus group of undecided voters was impressed by @PeteButtigieg. They said the #DemDebate made them more likely to vote for him. "It was refreshing to see him kick it up a notch!" @FOXLA @Deansheremet @GabyFresquez
Ameshia Cross @AmeshiaCross: It's no secret that @PeteButtigieg owned the debate stage. He has been the dark horse candidate from the beginning but I think after last night's stellar performance everyone took note. He is one to watch. #DemDebate
Chris Ryan @wkxlnchris: @PeteButtigieg stole the night. In leading up the debate he made it clear with whom he wished to engage and he sought to make himself the center of attention. Then he performed masterfully. #DemDebate #nhpolitics #FITN
Victory Fund @VictoryFund: "[J]udged by who did best in delivering smart, distinct, candidacy-clarifying moments, this was clearly @PeteButtigieg's night."
Charlie Sykes @SykesCharlie: Mayor Pete had a *very* good night --> ‘I don’t need lessons from you on courage’
Steve Grossman @SteveGrossmanMA: Mayor @PeteButtigieg dominated last night’s debate stage in Ohio. We saw a REAL commander-in-chief and our next President! #PeteButtigieg #Pete2020 #PeteButtigieg2020
