Mayor Pete ran for State Treasurer in Indiana and lost by 20 per cent.
A presidential nominee who can't win in his own state is not an asset. Previously, he was defeated in his bid for chairman of the DNC. He's a very bright man, but he's also a young man in a hurry who wants power and failed in his last two attempts. Klobuchar, like her or not, wins elections.
2
Neither of these two is my #1 fave, but I agree with Klobuchar that a female in Pete's shoes would never have gotten this far. As a female attorney, it's my experience that less-qualified men frequently leapfrog over more-qualified women. I understand why that irks her.
Interesting to see all the male names bashing Amy Klobuchar without balance or nuance. Welcome to our world.
If you read this story carefully, it appears that it’s Klobuchar, not Buttigieg, who is the primary attack dog in this fight, and also the one (because a woman?) who gets a pass for being madder than she is moderate. I’ve yet to hear a clear policy statement on anything from her.
1
The squabbling between all the candidates, not just these two, is disheartening. The debates have become one big brawl which I can no longer last through. I want to hear about each candidates own policy proposals and, for the most part, that is not what I’m getting. Cutting each other up is not productive and will hand the election to trump, who has a solid base no matter how atrocious his policies and personal behavior is.
2
Beyond the normal back and forth life has for all of us I have no real idea how a mother or for that matter any woman thinks.
It does appear however that literally bearing the responsibility for continued human life is one that no man can fathom.
It is also easy to accept whatever turns one on with regard to shiny bodies, but the function of a womans body shiny or not is repeated to her on a monthly basis; for decades.
Mayor Pete for all his desire to accept a role in his marriage can never accept the role of birth mother, which may express the apparent disdain, Ms Klobuchar an actual woman and mother, has for what appears the role of leadership he is playing.
She is a person who has worked hard for whatever position she has sought and a woman who has worked harder to achieve these same goals.
I get her frustration at both political and gender levels and I think Mr Buttigieg the scholar gets her ire as well
Geez this comments section really proves her point. So many men typing furiously about their dislike of Klobuchar. Her tone, her manner, her pettiness.
3
Here's the thing -
If Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar were not in the race for the Presidency which includes Bernie Sanders, the clear leader and likely nominee, and Elizabeth Warren, then both would be enjoying a lot of support, because after Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, they do represent, to some degree, the hope that they might be able to best Trump.
Mike Bloomberg and Joe Biden are simply entertainment at this juncture, and after Super Tuesday both will hopefully throw in the towel, as will Amy Klobuchar and perhaps Pete Buttigieg.
Warren will end up with Klobuchars' supporters, and Sanders will get Bloombergs and Bidens, ensuring that he will be the nominee.
Elizabeth Warren will be tapped to be the Vice President and thereafter it's onto a devastating loss for the Narcissist In-Chief.
Incidentally, the Intercept has a really interesting report on how badly the doubters have failed to understand why Bernie is the peoples solution to ending corporate ownership of our government, and our future.
See excerpt & link -
"CAN WE AGREE, in the wake of primary contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, and now Nevada, that everything we were told about Sen. Bernie Sanders was wrong? That the press, the pundits, the politicians were all wrong about him? And not just wrong, but completely, utterly, demonstrably, embarrassingly, catastrophically wrong?"
https://theintercept.com/2020/02/24/bernie-sanders-electability/
2
I support Amy. Why? She has experience. She gets things done. She is not “sexy” like Sanders. She is mid western 7 layer jello salad. Hard as horse hooves. Less baggage than any other democratic candidate. Has lived my life: addiction, motherhood, career as a woman. She gets it.
3
Haha I support Bernie. But sexy??!!
3
Now do one about pushy, ignorant, overbearing, obnoxious, know it all, and having no self awareness New York pols. Those folks tied up in a few square miles of real estate between the Hudson and East Rivers. We hate you now. Go away.
2
He's a typical Harvard grad. Total sense of entitlement, and trained to polish his resume since birth, rather than do substantive work.
She went to Yale, and has since proven herself in the real world.
2
Poor Pete!
I guess we don't want to risk him going up against mean old Trump - yikes!
It would be like feeding a kitten to a Wolf.
2
@Meg
I don't think Trmp would care much for your comparing to a kitten.
1
When this is all over, cultural history will weigh in on the side of Amy Klobuchar--the woman who stood up for her record, called out the sexist narratives exploited by Pete Buttigieg and similarly inexperienced male candidates (Beto), and showed us all what TRUE GRIT really means.
Go Amy!
3
Wouldn't vote for Klobuchar, but Pete's condescension is no feather in his cap with women voters.
3
Poor Pete!
I sure hope he does not have to go up against someone like Trump
2
Both need to drop out. That is all.
3
I liked Klobuchar until she began the nastiness. As kids say, she started it. I'm a gay woman and she lost my vote right there. Yes, it's hard being a woman but it's also very hard being gay and she does not seem to realize this
10
@reader
All she said was that she had more experience
What is wrong with that.
2
As a born and bred Mid-Westerner I definitely have a bias - finding, in general, Mid-Westerners solid, caring, empathetic people. Unfortunately neither Mayor Pete or Senator Amy seem like anything other than selfish, opportunistic apparatchiks.
Amy has consistently the highest turnover rate among her staff of all the senators. Definitely a red flag in addition to trying and sentencing a 16 year old African-American child as an adult.
Pete? I hate to be skeptical but I think he's had his eye on the White House since birth; hence his enlistment in the 'military' - to bolster his incredibly thin and problematic political career. Plus I simply love how Pete always announces he has won or come in second in all the caucuses/primaries so far - despite the number saying otherwise. Pete's lack of empathy for the POC in his city is appalling.
Neither seems to care a whit for those at the bottom. Hardly champions of the poor or working class. Sad examples of the Mid-Westerners I've known.
3
I’ll say it again, klobucher came after Buttigieg like an attack dog. She doesn’t care that she’s at the bottom and will not make the top four-five. She wants to inflict as much damage as she can to those on top. The only person in the group that overshadow her in meanness and scorch earth approach is warren. Too bad women in this country didn’t have a lot of choice with those in the race. She’s too shrill and repetitive with her ideas and well-worn story about her roots. At some point people just tuned them out.
8
Klobuchar's whining is unbearable! Does she really think an openly gay man, even today, has some special leg up on her during this campaign season just because he is a man? Give me a break. I've lived for years in the south; if he can get second place in any of those state primaries it will be nothing short of a miracle. Klobuchar is behind because she doesn't present a compelling message. At least Buttigieg makes an effort in that direction. Yes, she get's stuff done as a senator but she spends little to no time telling us what she got done that I care about or that young voters care about or what she plans to get done if elected. Work across party lines? Who is she kidding? McConnell isn't interested in bipartisanship anymore today than he was when Obama was in office, so the message needs to be think big, take both houses, and pass legislation that is going to change lives on the level of the New Deal. I'm 57 and have heard all this incrementalism bunk before. Trump is what we got with small incremental steps that left the long suffering waiting for relief that never comes. Instead of harping on all the reason why we can't have nice things, perhaps Klobuchar should have engaged in discussion about how we can get them.
11
@Karen
A really great comment, especially the following statement -
" ... so the message needs to be think big, take both houses, and pass legislation that is going to change lives on the level of the New Deal. I'm 57 and have heard all this incrementalism bunk before. Trump is what we got with small incremental steps that left the long suffering waiting for relief that never comes"
Says it all for tens of millions of Americans, the long-term deliberately ignored and disenfranchised, and if Trump gets a second term, or if Biden or Bloomberg gets in, we are back to another 40 years of the brutal incrementalism that has nearly beggared the poor and the middle-class.
The solution is Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren; I see Bernie as the better choice, a modern-day FDR, unapologetic, ready, willing and able to lead our Democratic Republic back to a sustainable future with real opportunity for everyone.
We need to get on-board with Bernie, put paid to the designs of our rapacious corporate Masters, and get on with the business of really making our nation great again, for all of the people all of the time.
6
I see. So if Pete does poorly in the South it’s because of bias against gays. If Amy does poorly, it’s because of her message. I don’t
personally support either, but this comment is not particularly convincing.
Reminds me a lot of Hillary Clinton’s attitudes towards Barack Obama in 2008 (even though they were both in the Senate). Constant denigration of “record”, how Hillary had done SO much more than an interloper on her territory. Klobuchar being that thin skinned about her record and her comments (“you calling me dumb, Pete?” When he really wasn’t). She may be a good legislator, but previous stories, which I tended to ignore because they tried to fit a “type” about her treatment of her staff, should probably come back up now. I don’t find her “shrill”, I find her “entitled” because, like her 99 Senate colleagues, she looks in the mirror and sees the “next President of the United States”. Pete and Mike Bloomberg have spent a LOT more time with the “direct voters” of their cities. I agree with Buttigieg: Washington experience isn’t the only experience that counts.
8
@Mark H on the legislation record: I wonder why no one has mentioned that, even among some of those who respect her, Amy K is known on the hill as the “Senator of Small Things.” Must be one of those Minnesota secrets.
3
Both of them need to step aside if they don't do extremely well in South Carolina. I am so tired of this squabbling. They have been in the race for over a year and have not made any significant breakthrough in the polls. At this point they are a drag on the moderate field. I hope they both wake up and do something for the country and exit gracefully stage left. Same with Tom Steyer. Why is he even in the race?!
3
I haven't watched all the debates, but I've followed the coverage pretty closely and this story pretty much confirms what I thought I saw: the animosity goes mainly in one direction.
Klobuchar's frustration that Buttigieg has done significantly better than she has is pretty clear. Her calculation that she needs to take him out to win his votes is pretty clear, too. The problem is that she's looking worse and worse picking these fights, and doing worse and worse.
But for Klobuchar's last minute surge in NH, Buttigieg might have won there and now be a viable candidate in SC. But it's clear that she hurt him in NH and that helped Biden to edge him out in NV. Now he's probably done. So is she. So is Warren. So is Steyer. And now the Dems are left to choose between a trio of candidates who are 77 and 78 years old. Ug.
4
Perhaps Mayor Pete should spend 10 years in the United States Senate.....in the minority.
While I appreciate his intellect and insights, there is no substitute for relevant government experience. Being a soldier is tremendous experience. He obviously has learned a great deal about being in combat. Perhaps his next step in public service is as the Secretary of Defense. I doubt he would rush to have the military solve what should be diplomatic challenges. We need that from him more than anything else....right now.
3
Both may think that they have the rest of us fooled into believing that they are anything more, or less than what they clearly are. They are moderately less Republican than the current slate of Republicans in the Senate and Congress. That's all. Enlightened Democratic voters are not hoodwinked by their kind anymore. Buttigieg is Indiana's Democratic version of John Kasich, and Klobuchar is the female equivalent in Minnesota. Both should be unhooked and thrown back to those places, so that the Bernie locomotive can proceed. Watch Sanders and Warren deftly deflate them in tonight's debate. The "post it note policy" zinger directed toward Klobuchar by Warren, aptly sums up Warren and Sanders' jaundiced view of Buttigieg too.
2
The Sanders train is headed off a cliff it’ll only bring us 4 more years of Trump.
2
I’m for Warren and Sanders all the way, but when I watch the debates I love Klobuchar. The complaints in here about her being snarky and snarky, etc, I think she is brave and surprising and though I have differences with her policy, she has made me look twice at those policies. I have also really liked her in the NYT candidate interview video pieces. She just comes across as frank and real, and to me, a woman in my 50s working multiple jobs, she shows grit. I respect her. I agree maybe the fight between her and Pete has had its day, but I’m surprised the comments fall so much in his favor. I think it proves her point that there is a double standard. I think he’s brilliant and I love listening to him, but it feels like the wrong historical moment to test his skills at the federal level. Like I said I’m all in for Warren, and Sanders, but Klobuchar’s feistiness has made me look twice.
5
Maybe the issue is that the description of "campaign messages centered on pragmatism" is incorrect. From my view they are campaign messages centered on the status quo, stagnation. Isn't that what we have had from the Democrats for the last thirty years essentially?
1
As I had said in this forum before; Pete has a great future but he simply is not qualified to do the job ahead of the next president.
That you can solo a single engine aircraft is a great accomplishment. But it doesn't mean you can pilot a multi-engine 747 on a trans-Pacific flight. And it certainly does not qualify you to fly a C-5 Galaxy loaded with troops and armor during an international crisis.
He is riskier than anyone else on the short list.
2
Based on the angry comments I am reading here from Pete supporters, it seems they think Klobuchar should have acted like a "good little lady" and not simply pointed out that she has more experience than him.
She never said she was superior - just more experienced - and it is true.
How dare a woman do such a thing!
However, this is what all candidates do.
Yet, somehow it is OK for Pete to give up his main argument that he is "the grownup in the room" by hitting her over the head repeatedly for forgetting a name at 3 am, which she had already explained.
He seems very sensitive.
It seems like Pete can't take any criticism without it getting under his skin for a long time.
I have never seen him the same way since that day.
As far as some comments about moderators going easy on her about her staff, it is because there is no proof that any of it ever happened. Even the NYT pointed this out - though they still reported it
Should moderators also help spread what might be false claims?
Her staff have gone on the record saying she is great to work for
We may lose one of the best candidates running all because of silly gossip
She is one of the only ones who can win back the Senate - look at the Senate map online at 270 to win
The only states that are up for grabs this time - just for a tie are NC, AZ, FL, PA and WI - just to break even. The rest Red states
The GOP are already pairing these down ballot candidates with Bernie - in order to win
Klobuchar could win those
4
Some day, a political analyst way smarter than I am might compare how the remaining two female candidates dealt with their (male) key competitors. Did Amy go after Pete too early and split their lane? Has Elizabeth waited too long only to cede Bernie their lane? I hate it that both highly qualified women are falling behind but I wonder if there’s a lesson here about women running for higher office and, sadly, the electorate and their expectations of candidates.
5
I wish Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar could put their differences aside and realize that TOGETHER they could make a dynamic due and a real difference in Washington.
I'm still a Pete supporter for prez and think Amy would make a great VP.
4
@Marge Keller
I am with you, Marge.
4
I can't wait for Klobuchar to revise her "I've won every race I've been a candidate" brag that she uses so often. According to my count, Klobuchar has now been on the ballot in three different sates and lost them all. If she drops out now, she could at least save her win/loss average.
4
Pete's health care plan seems kinda bogus, and his qualifications are lacking. It seems likely he could be the nominee someday, but he would have a longer career if he were VP first.
If Amy is frustrated, it is with good reason. She has flaws, but she should not have to fight on equal footing with someone who has no relevant experience. Remember how Clinton seemed exasperated with Trump? It is not dissimilar.
4
This article and the many like it disappoint and are emblematic of pathologies that permeate our electoral process.
It's all about entertainment: as the candidates step into the ring, the "gloves are off" and the night "will be full of jabs, swipes, swings...." - nothing about the candidates' ideas, just a focus on conflict cast in pugilistic metaphor.
Do you feel smarter, better informed, or otherwise improved after reading this article? I sure don't.
7
Hmm.... Instead of eviscerating each other perhaps they should consider going after the man at the top of the ticket. Just a thought.
Or is it that their campaigns really are a vanity exercise and they don't intend to win the nomination.
3
The problem with Sen. Klobuchar is that she's meticulously put together an impressive portfolio over the years, but voters don't care about portfolios. Voters want to feel, believe, and have a reasonable amount of certainty about their favorite candidate. Those thing come about by means other than a personal portfolio.
I think she feels cheated because her portfolio is bigger and better than Mr. Buttigieg. That maybe true, however voters are not drawn to her the same way that they are drawn to Mr. Buttigieg and other candidates. She comes across at bitter, as if Mr. Buttigieg is cheating somehow because it's incomprehensible for her to believe that any voter would chose him over her if they were being logical.
But elections aren't logical and the voters will chose as they please. Being the best candidate on paper does not entitle you to high poll numbers or election victories. Also, it certainly does not mean that voters are being fooled by Mr. Buttigieg or that they are just plain foolish.
2
I think Amy does a good job of appealing to both hearts and minds.
1
Pretty slim evidence of a feud. This is just two politicians trying to distinguish themselves. Drive through.
5
We need to ask ourselves. Are we selecting a presidential candidate based on substance or fashion?
3
A side show to the pre-show. Wake me up when the convention is over.
2
None of this matters, neither is getting the nomination and the longer they stay in and tie up votes that could go to a moderate with a shot the more likely it will be Sanders.
1
We would like our part time Senator to return to her full time duties representing the State of Minnesota. Her 39.1% absentee voting record on the Senate floor since January, 2019 is not sitting well with her constituents.
6
Pete had a shot but in the end will lose out to Bernie, all because of Klobuchar. He wins Iowa, she gets fifth place in a state that knows her very well, and should have eliminated her after New Hampshire save for a snappy closing statement in the televised debate a couple nights before the election. Without that, half of her 20-points goes to Pete, enabling him to win his second state and elevating his momentum going into Nevada. With two big wins, no Amy, and a severely wounded Biden, it’s enough votes to pass Bernie in Nevada. With Bloomberg’s debate disaster last week, Pete heads into Super Tuesday the front runner, and the 60-percent who don’t want Bernie propels Buttigieg to a massive win next Tuesday when 40% of all the convention delegates are chosen.
Instead, Amy will be sitting on a porch in front of some lake in Minnesota this summer, with mixed emotions, consoling herself that Bloomberg fell apart and cost her the page in the history books where she would have been the first female VP, while relishing the fact that she cost Pete the nomination.
That Trump wins Minnesota again, to her, is somebody else’s problem.
10
@Rich r
Because of Klobuchar?
He lost his shot when he went on and on about her forgetting a name at 3 am - it make him look thin skinned and petty
He was no longer seen as "the adult in the room"
I do agree she picked the wrong person to spar with - he is too thin skinned and vicious.
2
Your math requires a lot of leaps. It’s like one of those choose your own adventure books. Every sentence could feasibly have a completely different ending.
I’m a strong strong feminist but to me Amy’s attacks.on Peter have been unconscionable. She’s gone after him and I’m glad you actually laid out the way this happened. for him to come in and defend himself is not the same thing as having a boxing match. He’s had to step in I don’t think he started there. I don’t think he has a mean bone in his body and all she’s doing is validating all the reports we’ve seen about how mean she is to her staff. I was so hoping for a P and Amy or Amy Pete ticket and I didn’t really care which way and now I’m supporting him all the way
11
@REK
All she did was point out that she has more experience - how is that unacceptable?
He was not mean, nor did she lie.
I'm sorry but had a man acted that way they would call him a fair fighter - nothing bad there at all
It is almost as if his supporters seem him as a little boy who needs defending from an adult making rational arguments.
2
@REK Don't worry, she will console herself by throwing a few staplers at her staff.
2
"Add to that their mutual animosity, which erupted in caustic exchanges in the Nevada debate."
From the earlier reports, it was inferred that Sen. Klobuchar was quite annoyed that Mayor Pete was polling so high, well over her. She assessed him as a somewhat smart boy who should not, under ordinary circumstances poll any higher than she was. That got her worked up. She felt without putting him down a peg or two, she had no chance.
Thus when every time he performed apparently well, so well with every opponent, about constantly, she felt there was something wrong with the whole thing. She just could not concede that he was exceptionally gifted. This is the gist of their clashes.
Nevertheless, though I am a Pete supporter, he unnecessarily put her down in the last debate finding fault with her for not knowing the NEW, difficult to remember Mexican president's name. That made HIM look small, boasting that he very well could name the Mexican president.
I hope this evening Pete would not stoop to such abhorrent tactics - well, no one is perfect, one or two mistakes are forgivable. I still HOPE, maybe hoping against hope, Pete Buttigieg will get the nomination, and he will beat President Trump. He has all the gifts to be a great president, by beating Trump on any one-on-encounters, though too young-looking, and also gay.
4
@A.G.
I'm with you A.G.
I was embarrassed by some of the things Pete said in last week's debate. Hopefully he will realize that a lot of voters, like myself, do NOT appreciate nor condone such personal and petty attacks. Stick with the issues, hammer what you plan to do home rather than look desperate and attack one's opponent.
Tonight could be a make or break situation for BOTH Pete and Amy.
3
@A.G.
She started it, plain and simple. I really resent the Times' referring in an article (no comments allowed) that Pete and Amy went after each other. No, they didn't. She started it, she kept at it, and he responded.
The Times is becoming obvious in its preference for its candidate of choice.
Pete Buttigieg won't "stoop to such abhorrent tactics" if Amy Klobuchar will stop attacking him senselessly just because she feels he shouldn't be doing better than she is. And the "are you calling me dumb?" was cringeworthy.
Like you, I am supporting Pete. He's refreshing. He's inspirational. He sees the big picture. He has a sense of humor. I haven't felt this way about a candidate since President Obama.
4
Klobuchar's sarcasm last week were a complete projection of her insecurities about her work re. non English speaking populations. At least that's what struck me. It was not just about not knowing a name but when I learned she did not support bilingual education that was painful. It is through language that we reach to those of another culture. Pete speaks eight languages and clearly has a love of others.
8
@Jk
Even Senators get boxed in by their constituents to take stances they would not take as President. The more niche the office, the more and more severely this happens.
It is why it is unlikely anyone can ever jump from mayor or urban House member to POTUS.
@Jk
Then let him go be a translator somewhere.
Also, saw Mayor Pete multiple times in NH. He was so personable to all and he reached out to voters who were disabled- giving them extra time and attention. His campaign is the only one to follow-up with disability rights activists here in NH, and he asked them to help formulate his disability rights policies (which was subsequently hailed by WaPo as the gold standard plan). He is a kind person. Read about how he quietly (without seeking any attention) helped a boy in the South Bend hospital who needed a translator. Pete has an amazing skill set, voluntarily served in a war zone in the military, and wants to serve the public because that is his calling. He is the real deal.
11
Is there any kind of honest self-reflection or self-awareness going with either Buttigeig or Klobuchar?
If there was, they'd realize that apart from being the "also ran" bickering couple, they serve no real purpose in this nominating process anymore. Neither one has demonstrated their policy ideas to be in any way superior to other candidates, and unless we're totally fine with flushing the 2020 election down the drain with a Sanders nomination, they should both drop out and support the only candidate with the resources, temperament, intellect, experience, strategies, connections, and plans to defeat trump: Mike Bloomberg will get it done.
In the most recent debate we saw in demeanor the Amy Klobuchar who throws objects at her staff. It wasn't pretty.
10
I watched the entire debate and was disappointed in Buttigieg's attacks, especially the low blows aimed at Klobuchar. Even Elizabeth Warren felt compelled to defend her. After Super Tuesday I think there's a good chance Pete and Amy will both drop out of the race.
The candidates should all be focusing their fire on Trump, not each other. In my opinion, last debate they let Trump off the hook and did his dirty work for him.
8
After the primaries (or sooner perhaps) Amy can return to the Senate, but I wonder where Pete will go?
1
I was starting to warm to Klobuchar until the last debate, where Mayor Pete clearly got under her skin and she nearly melted down completely, shaking with anger. I'm sorry, but that's the kind of stuff you can't melt down over (current White House resident being a prime example of what we don't want).
Ultimately, she's not that close, so she's just not going to be the nominee. Probably not Buttigieg either.
For moderates, I'm warming to Bloomberg, for the executive experience. He ran a city that was bigger than a number of states. Mistakes made? Sure, that's inevitable for someone who throws their hat in the ring and gives it a shot. But overall did well, and hopefully comes away with some lessons learned. I just hope he has a debate performance that's credible this time, even though I suspect it's simply a format he neither likes nor is good at.
3
The one and only priority this election is to beat Donald Trump. Amy Klobuchar is clearly the best candidate to do it. Hands down.
Klobuchar would be a very tough target for Trumps' usual nonsense. Think about it, what is he going to criticize? The fact that she's 5'4"? She's young, smart, tough but "Minnesota Nice," she's experienced but hasn't been in Washington forever; she's one of us, her grandfather a miner, her mother a teacher; she's funny; she's self-detracting.
Oh, and by the way, she can BEAT Donald Trump.
2
I am surprised so many of these comments lay the blame for Pete's and Amy's sparring on Amy. Pete was the attacker here. Amy was trying to respond to the Latina questioner about forgetting the name of the president of Mexico. Pete butted in, trying to pile on the questioner's confronting of Amy. Naturally Amy defended herself to Pete. Pete wouldn't let up, coming back at her again. She countered his attack with a very valid attack on him ---- he has little experience, which is certainly true. The altercation was started by Pete, and it lowered his overall performance to me. To my mind, it was Amy who made the best points between them.
Since the debate, I have read and heard about how much they dislike each other, at this NYT piece asserts. What I've seen is just political sparring. No one, including the writer of this article, has given any evidence that they dislike each other on a personal level. Perhaps they do. I don't know. But the fact that they had some heated moments in the debate doesn't prove personal animosity. If heated debate moments prove personal animosity, couldn't we say that all of the candidates dislike each other?
5
@Joe Langford He wasn't so much the attacker (she started it) as he was simply better at it than she was.
While I am sure she dislikes Pete, I don't think he dislikes Amy. She is barely on his radar, and I think that is what frustrates her.
3
From the NYT author's historical recap of the relationship, it is clear that the press has stoked the personal interpretation of Amy-Pete while interpreting male-male interactions from an impersonal debating lens. You can see it in the questions asked in interviews and on the debate stage, as well as in headlines saying Amy "hates" Pete. We know from psychological research that the best way to stop this pattern is for Amy's allies to speak up in real time and present some analysis over time. This is why I am very glad to still have two women in the race. It gives them a chance to stand up for each other, and it gives the other candidates, the press, and us a chance to see these stereotypes in action and try to dismantle them. It is also important for Warren and Klobuchar to work around these stereotypes by taming or channelling their anger into defenses of people and policy instead of their own persons. Must be hard!
2
I see Mayor Pete seriously as a player in Democratic politics for the next 25 years. Amy should drop out now and go back to Minnasoooota and count her blessings. She’d get drubbed by Rump in a debate. She can’t stand the heat and needs to get out of the kitchen. She is never going to be a contender. She’s toast by next Wednesday.
5
I can't stand Pete Buttigieg. He is an armchair critic who has extremely limited experience, and it shows in his debates. He hasn't come up with any real ideas just takes on others' ideas and his criticisms are hollow and actually, annoying. I don't care if he is gay, it's not a free pass to any elected office. The more Mayor Pete sinks on the link, the nastier he gets. He's like an Alfred E Neuman image, making faces and pretending he's getting bowed up. If all you can do it attack others, and not provide any alternatives, you haven't got much. He is too young, to be honest. With age comes a bit of wisdom, one would hope. Mayor Pete hasn't responded to his own criticism about his own police department's issues with racism just tries to turn the tables, and not very well. I don't think Amy Klobuchar is the most charismatic character on the stage, but she's made some good points and she's had to go the extra mile because she's a woman while Mayor Pete gets a freebee because he's gay, and not in spite of it. Go Bernie, and be on guard the salivating terror is chomping at the bit tonight.
10
How much longer does Klobuchar get to say that she should be the candidate because she has "won" every race she has entered? She has now been trounced in three straight primaries and it is difficult to see her winning anything other than Minnesota. In short, Klobuchar has never won anything outside of Minnesota. Talk about horses for courses.
10
The Democrats should stop having debates. They are by their very adversarial nature weakening each candidate who needs to be "the one" to oust Trump.
7
I think there is more to it than a mayor against a senator disagreeing over who has the most valuable experience. Pete totally gets under her skin much as an irritating little brother might. And when he realizes he is getting the better of her, he digs in and takes advantage of her thin skin.
She is not the only senator up there, but she is the only one offended by Pete's presence.
Neither of them are presidential caliber.
3
It would be refreshing if Klobuchar and Buttigieg sincerely disliked each other and that their enmity was organic in nature. Sadly, that isn't the case.
Instead, they are two calculating politicians simply fighting to win the same voter base, and their scripted hostility is a direct consequence of that.
To win votes, Buttigieg must paint Klobuchar as incompetent and inexperienced, while Klobuchar must paint Buttigieg as an opportunistic and privileged upstart. That's how politics works. You destroy your opponent then eat his or her voters.
Again, it would be refreshing if their feud was sincere or real.
1
These "debates" are useless with no real information given out as to how and what the candidates want to accomplish. Basically, these a PowerPoint presentation given orally and far less informative because they lack details.
By this time, everyone has pretty much heard this presentation, unless you have been living under a rock. What really is needed are the details of EXACTLY what each candidate expects to do to get their policies in place--given that they must convince Congress to write the bills. How do they plan to do this convincing?
How do they plan to implement leadership of their Presidency? Obama threw out his idea of Healthcare and then retreated to the White House Oval Office and was never seen stumping for Obamacare. He abandoned the fight and we now have an emasculated "Obamacare"--yes, better than nothing but that is certainly a very low bar.
Buttigieg comes off as the Harvard educated McKinsey consultant that he is at heart. He and his supporters keep pointing at his military record, but that is just as thin as the rest of his experience. The guy is so smug and entitled, he makes 2012 Romney look humble.
8
@J Why don't you read his book so you actually get to understand him rather than just making biased assumptions.
3
Well said!
1
Your characterization of the debate to choose the next Democratic candidate for president is childish and offensive. Really - that's not objective journalism. It's full of stereotypes and comic images. This is the presidential race - these are serious debates. Klobuchar and Buttigieg will both get called on to defend their behavior and comments. They should both be able to respond respectfully - with anger or force sure, yet respectfully. Amy Klobuchar unfortunately had a few bad moments last debate. I hope she does better tonight. And I hope your next articles analyze the conduct and comments of candidates rather than using comic stereotypes and putdowns. NYTimes should and can do better.
6
No need to worry about either one of them. They will soon be history.
Klobuchar will continue to be a senator and Buttigieg will most likely go make big money for corporate America.
Trump will be re-elected.
1
Klobuchar’s interactions with Buttigieg reveal her to be a prickly, snarky woman, whose reputation for mistreating her staff precedes her. Sometimes, it just boils down to likability and I find Klobuchar unlikable. In the unlikely event she is the nominee, I will vote for her but I am ready for her to step down to narrow the field. These candidates sniping at each other resemble middle schoolers in the lunch room. The Dems need to get their act together and work to defeat Trump. That is the only goal. There has to be a better way to showcase candidates other than these ridiculous debates.
8
Biden, Klobuchar, Steyer, and Bloomberg should all get off the dais so that Buttigieg, Sanders, and Warren can wrap up these ridiculously boring debates and be finished hammering the same poor ideas over and over.
6
Pete and Amy go at it.
Warren tears into Bloomberg.
Biden reminds us he was Baracks veep.
And Bernie marches on.
Trump v Sanders in November.
Yikes!!
We need a third party. Someone in the middle to represent the non-loonies out here.
2
I like Klobuchar but she should be the VP with Bloomberg as the presidential candidate. He is a businessman, not a career politician. I hope that tonight he stands up for himself and does not apologize for his past -- it makes him appear spineless/wimpy/pandering. I don't like his position on immigration -- I prefer Trump's. But I don't like Trump's position on abortion since I'm pro-abortion/pro-choice. I will only vote for Trump or Bloomberg. I don't like the rest of the democrats, especially Warren and Sanders. They are both lunatics.
1
I love that Amy went around giving kudos to everyone on the stage who has gotten things done in Washington. I think it's ridiculous that a mayor of small town has gotten so far in this primary. It would be like if the mayor of Naperville Illinois tried to run for President. Nobody in Illinois would take that seriously and Naperville is a bigger city!
4
Pete Buttigieg has handled this mess with his usual calm, studdied manner while Klobochar makes a lie out of the term "Minnesota Nice". She whines, she pouts, she snorts, but it won't change the fact that her support is nowhere near the 15% level for delegates in the upcoming primary except in her home state of Minnesota. Go home Amy. It's over.
11
All you need to know is that Pete went to Harvard and Amy went to Yale. And Pete won a Rhodes to Oxford and that Amy went to U of Chicago Law School. And Pete worked at McKinsey in New York while Amy practiced law as a partner in two different firms in Twin Cities. And Pete became a mayor and Amy became a U.S. senator. And both are married to teachers. All this to say, they fight because they are SOOO much alike.
1
Neither of these two deserve the nomination. Pete is a platitude spouting phony who does not have the relevant experience to be president. He strikes me as someone who has padded his resume with all the right- sounding ladder steps but has done nothing of significance with any of it. Amy is, well, this article spelled it out.
4
I like them both - so there!
3
I thought this would be about the social/linguistic tics of Midwesterners, as shown by Buttigieg and Klobuchar on the debate stage.
Utterly disappointed it’s instead just a list of overblown drama!
3
Both of your headline people are moderate and normally would be a good choice vs Trump ie address the moderate progressive needs of swing state voters that elect presidents in the electoral college that Hillary ignored.
However, they have fatal flaws. Mayor Pete through no fault of his own is an open gay. Unfortunately America is not ready for a gay president yet just like they were not ready for Al Smith a Catholic circa 1920. It is a sad fact of life.
Although not as bad, Amy K has started using the female identity card that was fatal to Hillary. People are sick and tired of identity politics whether it comes from the left or right. They want people who unite like Obama who ran as an American and not an angry young black man.
If they really want to see Trump ousted they should throw their support behind Biden who does best against Trump especially in swing state voters.
Bernie has staying power and does well in the polls but his socialist tag and us vs them, poor vs rich may be fatal to him.
3
I'd like to ask all commenters here: what would have been Klobuchar's best response to Buttigieg's comments about the Mexican president? Ask yourself, is that the same response you'd recommend for either a man or a woman?
2
All this about Pete & Amy, while Bernie could decapitate Biden on Fifth Avenue and the Bernie Bros wouldn't care.
6
People commenting here about Klobuchar abusing her staff seem to forget that there were no actual "reports" of abuse.
This is all based on an "anonymous claim," that simply spread.
1. There is no proof any of this ever even happened and while the NYT even said we should not take anonymous claims too seriously - they still reported it.
2. Another anonymous claim (could be same person) says they said they reported her getting mad at them to Harry Reid
Guess What - Harry says it did not even happen!
So, we have 2 anonymous instances (mightbe claims made by one person- we do not know) - one absurd and one refuted.
Think about it - would you remotely be able to eat a salad with a comb?
Not even possible
Yet this has now morphed into "staff have said"
What staff?
He actual staff have gone on he record and say she is great to work for.
Her demor in interviews and debates certainly suggest this.
NYT also pointed out that if she were a man - even if true -none of this would have been reported - then they reported it anyway and said beware don't take us seriously
Isn't that what the ol biddy says just before she says some gossip she knows will spread like wildfire? I don't know id it is true but..
NYT reporting is kind of like "Mean Girls"
Also as they themselves pointed out - double standard
Also, in reality, journalistic integrity should not have allowed the publishing of anonymous claims like that. That was a big rule of Jim Lehrer from PBS - does not stop NYT
3
@Meg
No one who wants to stay employed in government as a staffer is stupid enough to bash their former boss, especially while she's seeking higher office.
People leave for a reason. Their actions speak louder than words.
1
I'm with Amy on this one. Buttigieg comes off as a smug teacher's pet.
8
They were both impressive, until the spat. Then they made it all about themselves. It's not about them, it's about us. They're interviewing for a job working for us. We already have a me, me, me person in the White House. To many of us, this is a search to find someone who'll evict him. We can concern ourselves with policy the next time around. It's the triage system. The country needs emergency fluids. We'll work on the vitamins and make-up after we've recovered.
22
This makes for great entertainment. But ultimately none of this matters as neither are likely to secure their party’s nomination.
4
As a centrist I liked both Amy and Pete, and it saddens me to see them going at each other. Unfortunately all that their bickering is doing is lifting Bernies (and Donalds) ship. After watching all of the debates, I still like Pete but do feel that he would best serve after some more experience (perhaps as a VP?) But I don't think Amy has it, if Pete can get under her skin I can only imagine Trump would drive her nuts. I do tip my hat to Elizabeth W, talk about being able to hold her own and dish it back under fire. I do hope that after a candidate is selected that ALL of these fine folks will pull together to help the nominee get elected.
27
@Douglas
I felt it was the other way around.
Why would Pete hammer home such a silly topic as her forgetting a name when she had just gotten off a flight at 3 am and had already explain this many times.
To me he lost his main argument and no longer was behaving like "the adult in the room" for being so petty and the only reason one might assume he was being so silly was because he could not tolerate her simply pointing out that she had more experience. Without experience it really is just talking points even if he is very good at language.
Since he attacked her on being an insider she had the right to make the argument that experience is worth something.
2
@Meg
I suppose, however at this point Amy should probably drop out to help clear up some of the congestion in the "moderate lane", Otherwise we are going to be stuck with Bernis much as the Repubs ended up with Trump in 2016.
1
Klobuchar is known in Washington for her nastiness, which the New York Times reported on several months ago. It’s been on full display at these debates. Buttigieg has made fair points about her voting record favoring the appointment of Trump’s judicial nominees, which suddenly changed when she began to run for President, as well as her spotty understanding of US-Latin American policies as a Senator involved with that region. The decision of choosing between him and Klobuchar has nothing to do with gender, but rather with temperament and knowledge. Buttigieg has negotiated as well as she has in his political life, albeit as a mayor; what he hasn’t done — as she has — is berate his staff and support Trump’s agenda.
35
@Mike
In my opinion, they are both sides the same coin. Pete is passive aggressive and Amy is openly aggressive. I respect Amy for at least expressing herself honestly and openly, even if I don't agree with her.
They both embody the worst personality stereotypes people have of midwesterners.
4
@Mike
There are actually no reports of Amy being known for meanness - and her staff have gone on the record saying it is not true as well.
No one can show any actual evidence, because there is none.
It just shows how unfounded rumors can spread when someone has an ulterior motive.
2
@Mike
Actually, there has only been an anonymous claim that was refuted by Harry Reid. Her staff says she is great.
I think it is odd that an anonymous claim has morphed into "it is known" and "her staff" plural
It is amazing what people will do with gossip when a woman is running
3
Whoever ascends to the presidency post-Trump needs our thoughts and prayers as well as our support. This man has virtually dismantled our government in service to consolidating his power.
That means that the next president has to fill or refill spots throughout the entire government bureaucracy, jobs small and large.
Remember that whenever Trump has a National Security Council member rudely ushered out of the White House, either that person is replaced with an incompetent or that person is not replaced at all, leaving yet another tear in the pattern of expertise and competence that holds up our democracy.
Therefore, I prefer a candidate who is well grounded in politics at the very upper reaches of government, and has an extensive network from which to draw.
In that context, I'm afraid Buttigieg is sorely lacking. In my own profession, I also was an academic star upon leaving graduate school. However, 30 years later, with so much experience behind me, my performance was far superior to what it was in my youth.
We need a candidate who will hit the ground running. The last four years have been a disaster. There is so much to repair, and so much to accomplish.
Blessings to whoever wins. The task is monumental. But I don't think it will be Buttigieg.
Klobuchar's point is well taken.
17
I am conflicted in my views. Buttigieg is clearly the better debater, with a thicker skin. And he got under Amy’s skin which does not reflect well on her ability to be president.
On the other hand, when attacked, Pete inevitably deflects with platitudes about Washington and his military service as a substitute for experience. There was a moment last week when he attacked Bernie on his polarizing politics: Bernie played the outraged indignation: since when defending basic human rights should be polarizing etc etc and i thought this was a pretty good counter-attack as it emphasized the key weakness in Pete: a suspicion that issues don’t really matter to Pete, only the political situation at the time does, and that Pete will gladly flip position if and when it’s in his interest, which he’s done already.
Keep in mind: with all these candidates: they are all born professional politicians, except maybe Warren, and hence their core skill set is not leading and proving. Their core skillset is charming people and let people see what they want to see in them. You really have to detach yourself from what they say! And look instead at their decision making pattern in their past. And this is where Buttigieg is weak. A history of flip-flopping, complicated and insensitive race relationships in a small city, a pandering to the billionaire donor class that, once elected, would essentially demand a return to Obama style politics and giving up the pretense of being a uniter.
13
@R
Pete has not flip-flop on anything. Some people cited his 2018 tweet in which he supports M4A as an example. Pete still supports single payer, but as a presidential candidate, he has proposed M4A Who Want It as glide path.
Both Liz and Bernie (through his surrogates such as AOC, Ryan Grim, etc.) have come to Pete's side on M4A as a public option.
Many of Pete's positions on issues started as early as his college years. Anyone who doubts his character should read "Reading Buttigieg" by James T. Kloppenberg, Pete's teacher in college:
"At a time when so many equally capable recent Harvard graduates are off feathering their own nests, Peter is doing the thankless work of political organizing, not because he expects a reward but because he believes it is important. Many would describe his choice as quixotic, but I respect it. Peter unquestionably has the capacity to excel at Oxford and afterwards. He thinks clearly and writes beautifully. Beyond his obvious talent, he has a backbone. It is his strength of character, the depth of his democratic convictions, that will make him a forceful presence in American public life."
Pete walked away from a well-paid job to try to revitalize his home town. He came out of closet during an election year, when his political career is on the line. Pete is a man of integrity and courage.
7
I like both candidates just fine, but Amy needs to get out of the race. She cannot win, and with so many moderates in the race she will guarantee a victory to Bernie. Styer, Biden, and Bloomberg too --its time to get out!
22
@Karen Seccombe Meenan
She is not pulling votes from Biden that is mostly Pete.
Besides, they all have to get out except 2 or it does no good at all. This means Pete has to go as well.
1
Klobuchar comes off with a disconcerting arrogance which is why I suspect she is losing in the polls. She seems to project the idea that because she played by the rules and is a woman, she's entitled to be a serious candidate. This is the problem with Democratic party machine. It thinks that if it courts and satisfies constituencies with symbolic candidates, those candidates have a sense of entitlement when it's "their turn." I find really disheartening when a straight woman goes after a gay man because of his "privilege." When you're competing against another member of your party for who has suffered more, there's a real problem. I give kudos to Pete for taking plenty of incoming from Amy for so long before firing back. Where is the Democratic leadership on these fights? They should know better than to let this play out for so long but then again, this is probably why we can't agree on who should be the alternative to Bernie.
23
@McDiddle
Of course (ex) Mayor Pete is 'privileged'. Imagine if a women (same age and resume), married to another woman, were a candidate for President. That woman would be nowhere near the debate stage. Neither would Pete if he was a male candidate of color, married to any color male. (It's doubtful that he would be a viable candidate if Chasten were not Caucasian).
Pete would not have made any progress last year if he hadn't been backed by Big Donors, many of whom were backing him precisely because he is homosexual.
2
Pete, Biden, Amy and Bloomberg should all focus their efforts against Bernie. He is on the verge of winning the nomination while these 4 moderates attack each other.
8
This article and so many comments here focus on style over substance, personality over policy. Even discussions of Sanders focus too much on his affect and demeanor. I don't care about these things. I want policies that make sense for all Americans and I want a leader who knows how to work with others and with what he/she's dealt to get it done. Both Klobuchar and Sanders fail to meet these standards and neither have a great Senate track record. Let's talk about that and not waste time on silly debate gotchas. Most Americans do not care about the debates. If they did, Trump would have lost easily. I support Buttigieg because of his policies and plans.
10
The reality is Pete is a nice guy, but belongs nowhere near a presidential candidacy. I am not sure the demographic holding him up! I just don’t see the former of a small college town having close to the experience necessary to execute as a president.
Unfortunately I think his presence is snuffing out the only candidate (Amy) who has the potential to be a great president- my metric is ability to navigate complexity in Washington. I’m sorry but I just don’t see anyone else doing it. The others will just be another embattled presidency of republicans and democrats bickering about this and that.
16
Having spent seven lonely years trying to make friends in the Midwest, I would like to interject that Michigan is not actually in the Midwest. It's just Michigan. Michigan is a country. Nothing else exists.
And the saying Minnesota Nice? It is most definitely a misnomer. It's really Minnesotan Ice, as in permafrost.
Nice is so overrated, and the Midwest you describe is an illusion. Give me the hard talking folks of Central Jersey any day of the week.
16
Whatever your thoughts are about these two candidates (and I happen to like both of them), I think we can all agree that the last thing we need right now is for them to stage a food fight on the debate stage. Nothing good will come of it, neither candidate will come out the victor, and there's just too much at stake for our country in this election to be wasting your time on this stuff.
When we should all be focusing on the very real and critically important issues we currently face this feud is a harmful distraction. Get your heads back in the game...whether you like it or not, you're on the same team!
19
Pete’s an incredible orator and quick on his feet. That being said, I agree with Amy that a Woman with Pete’s experience wouldn’t be treated as qualified the same way Pete seems to be in the media. Too fast, too soon for young Pete for me, but he has a bright future.
32
@TM
A woman with Pete's intellect, temperament, and experience will have won in a landslide - just look at AOC - the Progressive are already thinking about drafting her, and she is not even close when compared to Pete.
6
I was just a senior in high school then, but I well remember the vicious attacks that went back and forth between John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. There was no love lost between them, yet they ended up sharing the ticket and squeaking out a win in 1960. Primary battles are quickly extinguished when it's time to create the final ticket. Buttigieg/Klobuchar or vice versa. It could happen.
6
If years experience in the Senate are what is important, then Mitch McConnell should be our next President.
18
@Joseph B
Agree!
2
@Joseph B
Right? Talk about a wayward perspective.
5
I sense Senator Klobuchar envies the political skillset that allowed the mayor of Indiana's fourth largest city to become a top-tier candidate for the nomination. Regardless of gender, she simply doesn't have his chops. Add to that the Times' previous reporting on the senator's treatment of staff and I think you find character flaws that have held her back from greater success this year.
41
Pete is an elitist, he sounds like Bill Clinton and Obama( the stars of elitism). While being a Major is still very significant, Senator Klobuchar has passed more than 100 bills( with others); in the US Congress this is a huge achievement. Perhaps it would take someone like the Senator to defeat Trump in November. I like she is effective, direct, smart, a doer etc.
22
@Afrikanneer Clinton and Obama both won. A winner is needed
Pete's holier than thou smugness with which he proudly delivers vague platitudes and criticizes his opponents the worst. He says these things as if they are the most profound and meaningful things we as voters have ever heard, even though they amount to virtually nothing. I can't remember the last time he said something concrete about his own policy, for weeks it's just been attacks. Amy's easier to deal with but her political career has been and continues to be fraught with questionable choices. Pete was partially right when he said that small towns are in the arena as much as federal politicians, but he had difficulties in a very small place that was very culturally homogenous. Our nation, which is the 4th largest country by land area, 1st by GDP, and third in population with 330 million people from every nation on Earth, is not South Bend. Pete has done nothing to justify his worthiness for the office of president. I don't buy Amy's whole regular person who makes mistakes schtick, but listening to her speak doesn't run the risk of me going blind from rolling my eyes so hard, unlike Pete. Neither of them are presidential material.
16
@Dad of Cats No one in this race, D or R, is presidential material. We are not going for another Obama here. We just want the Constitution to survive for the year when a great president does arrive. Another Trump term would put that in question. I continue to like Amy's approach, but I was R until 2016. I'm at the Weld point on the moderate scale. Sanders scares me. All I want from gov is Medicare, and he will upend seniors' medical care by trying to do everything for everybody. Doctors are stretched today with ACA.
Bloomberg is just another Trump, will do want he wants. Warren is good but manic.
Biden would not do much and frankly does not appear interested in being president. Only advantage with Biden would be a Senate flip and House save, possibly. That's pretty significant but no sure thing.
There's no great obvious presidential choice.
This timeline shows just how think skinned and trigger happy Klobuchar is. She seems to respond to questions the way a certain male traffic cone does - deny and attack. It is unfit for a candidate and it is unfit for a president.
18
Both Buttigieg and Klobuchar are about as lame as they come, but it's fun to watch them go at each other!!
8
Love the understatement—“limited appeal among voters of color”.
6
Amy’s a well-known bully. Pete’s a polished salesman of nothing-burgers. Biden’s Achilles heel is too big now. Bloomberg, nondisclosure agreements, say goodnight. So that leaves Bernie and Liz. Both of whom are .... terrific.
19
They both lost me with this ridiculous behavior at an important moment of choosing who to beat Trump. I sent a few bucks to each of them awhile back.
Not any more
5
Maybe it was an honest or rookie mistake for Amy to forget the name of the Mexican President, but it was the kiss of death to look like she was going to cry. Folks in Virginia will vote for Mike or Uncle Joe.
8
As much as I like and admire Klobuchar, I was surprised and saddened she could let herself get so angry and unhinged as a result of some very simple baiting.
She KNEW after her good showing in NH that someone would be coming after her, but when the attack came she was unprepared and became unraveled. You could see her trying (unsuccessfully) to use calming techniques. Make no mistake, having a temper doesn't disqualify being a good president - Clinton for example was quick to anger, though he hid it - I still believe she'd be a good one. But showing anger and frustration so quickly when you're on stage being compared to others and trying to be the chosen one, that's......not going to get very far in this race.
I'm not a fan of Buttigieg for various reasons (inexperience, migratory positions on issues, questionable reasoning, smugness) but I will give him his composure and ability to pivot and parry thoughtfully while under attack. You do expect leaders to be that.
Perhaps Klobuchar will recover tonight, build in her NH performance, and prove the last debate was an aberration. Otherwise we won't be seeing her much longer.
10
@Holmes
Betcha dollars to doughnuts Amy’s history be the end of next week and Pete’s still in it to win it.....
1
@Draw Man If she doesn't have a killer debate and strong Super Tuesday (better than simply winning her state MN) -- two very tall mountains -- you're probably right. Surprisingly, up to this point she's 3rd in total raw vote counts behind only Bernie and Pete. Not delegates of course, but I was surprised to see that. So maybe...
Let us see here. We should clear the junk on the dais. Bloomberg, Steyer, and Klobuchar should vacate the dais so that Sanders, Warren, and Buttigieg could could argue their case more substantively.
8
Both Klobuchar and Buttigieg are Clinton-Lite.
4
@Rod
Possibly without the corruption. Which isn't nothing.
2
Is it possible, at all, for the NYTimes to run stories on actual issues and the candidates' positions? Or is this going to be like 2016, where the election is presented to us like it's a reality TV battle?
22
Pete was professional, respectful, and he focused entirely on Amy's records.
Amy lied and twisted Pete's statements in the previous debate just so she could attack him (William Saletan, Slate, 2/12/2020 https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/02/klobuchar-saved-campaign-new-hampshire-buttigieg-attack.html).
Amy is an abusive boss (please - being abusive is not being tough or demanding or having high standard).
Pete inspires and brings out the best of people who work with him (Maureen Groppe/USA Today): Santiago Garces, who was South Bend's first Innovation Officer and is now director of innovation and performance for the city of Pittsburgh, found working with Buttigieg exciting but demanding. “I think he sees governing as a kind of moral activity that requires going back to what is good and bad and trying to reframe the decisions in terms of what is good for society,” Garces said. “As an engineer, sometimes you’re like, `Oh my god man! Would you just tell me what you want!’ But, in the end, you end up betting a better result.”
I'd support any female candidate with Pete's temperament, humility, intellect, compassion, and executive experience - age and gender has nothing to do with my support.
16
@Former Minnesota
Funny that South Bend's "Innovation Office" didn't innovate his way into thinking that every neighborhood in South Bend, not just the rich part, should have street lights on at night.
But hey, I'm sure those light sculptures by Notre Dame are totally innovative and useful.
Eh, two candidates headed for a drop out soon.
5
Who or what is propelling Buttigieg? Surely no one really thinks a gay guy and mayor of a small town could win the presidency?
7
@narena olliver Whether we like it or not, far too many people are negative towards gay people
@narena olliver As soon as these primaries hit the south, Mayor Pete is going down for the count.
@narena olliver No one thought Trump could be a nominee or a president either. *sigh*
Big money is supporting Buttigieg as a Biden-substitute candidate? A sure loser? ..except nothing is sure. We can dream up conspiracies forever, but thanks to Citizens United SCOTUS decision, we don't know where the support is coming from.
So what if Amy and Pete hate each other’s guts? Let them just take it outside and stop crowding out the Democrats field.
5
Minnesota nice meets Indiana stupid. Personally, I'll just stand back and let them beat each others' brains out. Pass the popcorn, please.
5
Buttigieg happens to be homosexual, although I firmly believe nobody in the LGBTQ community is for him. He is a white male that happens to be homosexual, although according to gay people has done nothing for that community. Maybe the Log Cabin Republicans.
6
@RBR What? You believe nobody in the LGBT community is for Mayor Pete? Well then perhaps not you and your LGBT community. But in my LGBT community we admire that ‘homosexual,’ as you referenced, for his bravery, leadership and service as a soldier, mayor, and currently as a presidential candidate. Finally, a smart, decent, and accomplished leader who happens to be ‘homosexual’ running for the presidency. The audacity of hope.
2
Amy lost her race the moment she began eating salad with a comb.
5
Mr. Corasaniti: What is the journalistic value of this article? It uses headline text such as “The kid gloves are off!” that seems more appropriate in the pages of a tabloid than in an emotionally sober newspaper like the Times. We need the Times to help educate us on the substantive policy positions of these candidates, not revel in their conflicts.
16
This is not a news story. This is click bait from the NY Times that reads like a reality show drama, the same as the televisions outlets treat the "debates" as a winner vs. loser reality show.
I expect more from the New York Times than gossipy columns about candidates who don't like each other. Let's stick to substantive issues rather than personal beefs.
21
@jrinsc It goes along with the Times stories that rationalize Bloomberg's actions and its tendency to give a free pass for all gay candidates no matter their qualifications.
Ive read through all of the comments so far, and wow! Just wow! Can't recall such venom being sent towards Klobuchar, most of it the residue of a totally unfair and incomplete hatchet job in this newspaper about her supposed meanness towards her staff.
The only staffers quotes saying that wouldn't let their names be used. A week after the article appeared, Klobuchar's staff, some 43 in all, signed an open letter saying that she was a tough but fair boss and they loved working for her. As for turnover, one reason for turnover in Amy's office was that Obama recruited many of her staffers for temporary Administration assignments.
And these nasty comments discount the inescapable fact that AK has won three statewide elections for the U.S. Senate, including many Republican counties. If she were as bad (hissy, prissy, angry, mean) as so many writers have described her in this comment board, how did she manage to fool Minnesota voters three times, and by record numbers?
AK's path is very narrow; folks need to decide among Amy, Pete or Joe in the moderate channel, and something has got to give. But why criticize Klobuchar for staying in the race? Why not? She's won major newspaper endorsements all over the nation. She has a solid progressive record and policy agenda. She has much more experience than Buttigieg. And when hear her in debate, I hear a proud pubic servant and a caring Mom wanting to reach for high office.
GEEZ!
20
@PaulB67 Well said! Hope you are commenting elsewhere too.
1
The fact that "Klobuchar's staff ... signed an open letter saying that she was a tough but fair boss and they loved working for her" is no more convincing than Donald Trump's claim that the President of Ukraine's statement about not feeling pressured by Trump must be considered as accurate.
1
Amy Klobuchar is an amazing senator who has had many accomplishments during her political career, BUT I honestly don't think that she should be the democratic nominee. People say that Pete Buttigieg has little POC support, and as a POC supporter of his this is something I'm actually worried about. But if Pete has next-to-no black support, that of Klobuchar is nonexistent. Plus, Pete Buttigieg has the second most delegates, only beaten by Bernie Sanders right now. It is time for moderates to rally around one candidate, why not Pete? I'm waiting until Super Tuesday for a final choice between him and Joe Biden, and I'll be supporting the one with more delegates after then. We need a candidate popular with Democrats AND capable of beating Donald Trump, because a Sanders nomination will become a Trump win. Back to my point, Pete currently has the most delegates after Bernie, which helps to show that he has supporters behind him. Amy's best finish so far has been third in New Hampshire, and only third was her best? Finishes like the ones in IA and NV (two thirds of the released results so far) will mean that she won't become the nominee.
10
Well to Amy’s point, there is a more qualified woman the same age as Pete getting zero attention- Tulsi Gabbard. I’m not endorsing Tulsi just think she has accomplished a lot more than the mayor of a small college town.
6
To be fair, Buttigieg’s entire debate strategy has been to question other candidates why they are not perfect and why do they not only surround themselves and attract equally illuminating supporters.
Little substance or worthwhile ideas of his own, but excellent holier than thou nitpicking.
14
I really hope that Bernie chooses Klobuchar as Vice President, otherwise he doesn’t have a chance.
6
Yes, I guess Midwestern iciness is an interesting story line. But while Klobuchar and Buttigieg and the other candidates fight it out for the nomination, we have a lawless President that is destroying our democratic institutions. These are not normal times that permit politicking as usual. All Democratic candidates need to take a timeout from attacking each other and instead present a unified front against the President's disdain for democratic values and in support of the rule of law. Would it not be refreshing if one of the candidates took the debate stage tonight to call on the others to join together in condemning the President?
4
So we should be focusing on defeating Trump? So we , as Democrats , have only how many electable candidates?
Bernie , who endorses Castro because of his education programs? How about a national socialist who built the autobahn? Or a man who ruled Russia ...
Please , focus on the issues & not on petty jealousies.
By the way , an out candidate has a lot of prejudice to deal with , too. Bigotry & prejudice are not exclusive to , gender, race, or religion. And prejudice due to wealth or education? How much money has Warren Buffett or Bill & Melinda Gates given to the masses for education , health & wealth. And what has Bernie given? I will take the efforts over hot air any day.
2
Both of these candidates are the worst. I don't understand why either one of them think they're qualified to be president (obviously other than the fact the Trump won). Klobuchar has voted for 2/3 of Trump's judges, including some of the worst. That's disqualifying on its own considering there is no electoral need for her to have done that. Buttigieg was the mayor of a college town in Indiana. No woman would even make to the first primary with his-ahem- resume. He has no support for core Democratic constituencies. I wish both of them would go away.
5
I think your premise is mistaken. It is only Sen. Klobuchar who has shown that she personally has an issue with her opponent Mayor Pete. She has made petty and dismissive comments to and about him throughout all the debates (like her juvenile comment " I wish everyone was as perfect as you Pete."). Mayor Pete has only questioned her voting record which is fair game for a sitting Senator.
After the last debate where her not nice demeanor came out 9which her employees have warned us about), Mayor Pete went to shake Klobuchar's hand and she stormed by him without accepting the handshake. Petty.
So don't project her nasty behavior on him- it doesn't go both ways.
15
Klobuchar may be talented in many ways, but to me, the fact that she ate salad with a comb in order to "shame" an aide who forgot to bring utensils is absolutely scary. It's the kind of thing an abusive parent would do to a child who'd made a mistake. It indicates a level of deeply-saturated craziness that I don't want anywhere near the Presidency. (And yes, if a male candidate did this I'd feel the same way.)
177
@Bob G. Did she comb her hair with a fork?
1
@Bob G.
1. There is no proof this ever even happened and while the NYT even said we should not take anonymous claims too seriously - yet they still reported it.
Think about it - would you remotely be able to eat a salad with a comb?
Not even possible
2, Another anonymous claim (could be same person) report brings up Harry Reid - he says it did not even happen.
So, we have 2 anonymous instances one absurd and one refuted.
Yet - Bloomberg who has actual non-disclosure agreements will probably get the benefit of the doubt because they are anonymous.
Double standard -
Also, in reality - journalistic integrity should not have allowed the publishing of anonymous claims like that - that was a big rule of Jim Lehrer from PBS
6
@Bob G. She ate the salad with a comb rather than go hungry. I'd call that resourceful rather than an example of shaming someone.
3
The fact is, if Klobuchar were a man, she’d have been made to answer in the debates for her huge staff turnover (highest in Senate) reportedly due to her belittling, abusive manner. And if she did get called on it, she’d complain that she’s being unfairly targeted as a woman. It’s the kind of feminism motivated by opportunism vs. equal opportunity.
Klobuchar picked the fight and Pete’s given better than he’s gotten, and made her look small in the process—and provoked her to show flashes of that famous temper of hers...
Klobuchar says let’s not replace one billionaire in the White House with another. Fair enough. But let’s not trade one bully for another, either.
307
Or are those things emphasized to enhance gender stereotypes? I don’t think they come up at all for a man.
14
@Daphne Calling Klobuchar a bully is like calling a tiny yipyip dog a guard dog. I have zero interest in Amy as POTUS, but come on.
2
@Daphne "reportedly" due to her belittling - I suppose it would never occur to you that it's possible the turnover might come from the fact that she doesn't keep people down? And no, a man would not be asked that question. Let's see the stats.
12
The best experience for president other then being vice president may be governor of a large state. Bring in Congress is also good experience. Since the Republican Party is trying to dismantle the federal government and undermine democracy government experience doesn't matter for a Republican nominee, what they need is someone who can tear things down. The Democrats on the other hand could benefit from someone with a lot of federal experience or state level experience. They have four candidates remaining with that type of experience (excluding Gabbard) and should choose one of them as the nominee. On this argument I completely agree with Klobuchar.
65
@Bob Klobuchar is a Hillary clone. She thinks too highly of herself and has no humility. Watch her talk and all you hear is I, I, I, and I alone, I alone. Really? Is she the only one that has ever won a political race? She sounds more and more like Hillary and support the same failed policies. I voted for Hillary. Hillary was a bad candidate and so is Klobuchar. And by the way, Buttigieg is equally bad as he wholly embraces the neoliberalism of the Bill Clinton era (I voted for him twice), and the wealthy donors, the 1%, while ignoring the middle class and the bottom 95% of the American society. These sort of failures lost the 2016 election and gave us Trump, the crook-in-chief.
22
Tulsi pretty much proves the point. She is the same age as Pete and more accomplished than a mayor of a small college town and gets zero attention.
8
@Bob It is a real shame Jay Inslee never gained any traction.
11
Amy Klobuchar is the best qualified candidate. She should stay above the fray and speak directly to the voters about issues that concern them rather than criticizing fellow Democrats. She did best when, in her closing statement at the NH debate, she told an anecdote about FDR and then made an impassioned "I know you" appeal to the voters.
13
Look at it from Klobuchar's point of view. You work hard, slowly climbing the ladder as a prosecutor, and eventually you get yourself elected to the United States Senate three times while raising a daughter. In the presidential campaign, you're continuously challenged and harped at by the 38-year-old ex-mayor of a college town in Indiana. Buttigieg doesn't have much to run on, but he does have all the qualities of a high school debate champion, which plays well on TV. Do accomplishments matter? It seems they don't. Having a record in government only means that your opponents have more opportunities to pick at you. In my opinion, Klobuchar is the best candidate to run against Trump and win the November election. She has the skill and experience to get things done in DC. The best you can say for Mayor Pete is he's extremely well polished.
215
I think there's more to Pete than simply being "well polished." He's a veteran, a Rhodes Scholar, a two-term mayor, and an absolutely brilliant person.
320
@Peter
Well, in all fairness, Amy was the one to start this.
Fine, she feel slighted that, gasp! a man, and a younger one at that, has captured the interest of the voters over her.
Well, that's on her. Pete doesn't script her interviews or schedule them or whatever.
She is just showing petty and childish jealousy that he's getting attention, and votes, and she is not.
143
@Peter
Ryan’s response (above) to your post is spot on.
And if this article makes anything clear, it Klobuchar doing the harping and not Mayor Pete (who clearly is just defending himself). Sad thing about Klobuchar is that all this sideshow does is prove the narrative that she is a bully. I’ve watched the debates and the hostility in her voice is palatable.
105
My opinion of Klobuchar has steadily dropped over the course of the last few debates. She has not criticized Buttigieg on substantive matters of policy. Instead she has looked for "gotcha" moments where she could seize on one word and take it out of context ("exhausted") and complained repeatedly about inexperience.
What is happening is that Buttigieg has gotten votes to which Klobuchar believed she is entitled. She is angry that voters do not warm to her, and they do to Buttigieg. He took her "lane" (the word that the pundits like to use to turn politics into a sporting event), as he had every right to do, and is a better politician. And she can't handle that. It is past time for her to get real and drop out.
256
@Wile_E I've been a Klobuchar fan from day one, but sadly I have to agree with your post. Those "gotcha" moments were exactly what turned my off from Harris.
That last debate was a disaster. Maybe the pundits who enjoy politics as bloodsport liked it, but I was thoroughly disgusted by the whole thing.
The only one who came out looking good was Steyer, who was fortunate not to be on that stage.
38
@Wile_E Yep!!
10
@Wile_E
Kind of like Warren’s hits on Bernie and Bloomberg. If Bloomberg had talked over/interrupted/yelled at her as she did him, the headlines would have been about sexism, misogyny and mansplaining. Klobuchar has acted much the same way toward Buttigieg.
17
I was glad that Buttigieg's interaction with Klobuchar at last week's debate allowed her snarkiness, which she is infamous for, to be on full public view. She literally snarled at Pete when he questioned her knowledge regarding Mexico and it's leader. Now I'm not saying that forgetting someone's name momentarily is a big deal - it's not - but she was so annoyed that I thought if this is her reaction to being questioned on a debate stage by a fellow candidate then her reputation for throwing phones at her staff and treating them badly seem evermore true. Some will say there's a double standard between men and women and how we perceive them but I refute that claim. My reaction was totally gender-neutral. I simply don't like her for the aura she exudes, and if she were a man I'd feel entirely the same.
399
@ManhattanWilliam
Oh, come off it. She didn’t “literally snarl.”
And no one has accused her of throwing phones at anybody.
Look, it’s fine if you don’t like her but why make things up? Don’t we have enough of that already?
48
@ManhattanWilliam
She did not forget. She just did not know the name of the Mexican president. You can read the transcript of that interview on the web.
75
@ManhattanWilliam
I agree. She came across as petty and entitled, as if her years of being a Senator somehow elevated her over Mayor Pete.
She is the kind of person that is all smiles for the camera and, like you mentioned, hurling insults and objects at staffers behind closed doors.
Thanks, but no.
123
May both of their campaigns end swiftly. It's hard to believe people actually like either.
13
Klobuchar's polling numbers and caucus/primary results thus far are pretty much all that needs to be said about her candidacy. I don't think Buttigieg has done anything to her or acted in anyway inappropriately. This supposed clash seems media-manufactured to extend the life of Klobuchar's campaign,maybe because the Time's endorsed her and neither of their endorsements are panning out. I'm an Ohioan and all this talk of Amy's "Midwestern Nice" rings hollow and shallow. Give me Pete's policies and vision any day over a senator who doesn't do her homework, can't speak intelligently about committees she serves on, and has voted for far too many Trump judicial nominees. Hard pass on Amy.
34
They should both withdraw. Neither have a path to the Democratic nomination. They would both struggle against Trump. Neither have anything inspiring to say.
10
Here in the land of what seems like perpetual candidate visits, I have had the good fortune to meet both. Each is incredibly brilliant and thoughtful, amongst the best of the best. Away from glare of lights though, you can see the contrast and what actually having living through things can bring. While Pete Buttigieg is a great debater and thinker, Amy Klobuchar can expound on ideas developed from deep experience in policy but also relationships.
It is harsh but worth pointing out. When Amy Klobuchar was finishing her final year at Yale University and in the year she would start at University of Chicago Law School, Pete Buttigieg was in diapers. When she ended life as a corporate lawyer and began public service, he was still in high school.
If we elect him for president, he would be 46 years old when he finishes after eight years, enough time so he can spend the next 40-50 years getting the life experiences to have become even a better president. It is a shame. David Axelrod said it openly and plainly that if Barack Obama had spent more time in the Senate, he would simply develop more of a record to be attacked. This one is on us because the gotcha culture has created a number of Republican and Democratic ex-presidents living full lives and we are left with a president who has no public service experience.
I think her mistake is that she is trying to run for president while keeping a full time job. She is stretched while he has luxury of soaking up information.
10
@Osman
Too often people conflate experience with leadership and judgement. This article makes clear Klobuchar’s strategy of going after Buttigieg. Contrast that to Buttigieg’s strategy of (1) calling out the threat Bernie Sanders poses to Democrats chances in November, and (2) unity and going after disaffected Republicans/voters. Pete’s got the vision thing — whereas Klobuchar’s got a ton of divisive resentment which clouds her judgment and shows that her experience is worth nada.
6
@Sam why go after Republican voter who currently support Trump between 86% and 94% depending on which survey you read? Why not instead sure up Democratic base or appeal to the 45% to 50% who don't vote?
1
I never thought and still don't think either of these folks have any right being "serious POTUS candidates" (Pete is unqualified, and Amy's candidacy is where charisma goes to die) but in this modern political age of Trump, I suppose anything goes. The bar has been lowered through the floor.
At least their arguments are genuine, not manufactured, and highly entertaining. So, it's not a total loss.
3
Is the Democratic Party soon going to open the curtain and announce that it was joking and there's actually an A Team of candidates?!
4
Best thing that could happen would be for both of them to drop out of the race pretty soon.
While either one would be better than the dumpster fire we have in the White House, we can do better.
In the end though, I'll take any of them over Trump and I'm thinking that most who oppose Trump are thinking the same thing. It's no time for purity. It's time for winning back the country from those who would destroy it as we've known it...
4
It is so true that if Pete was a woman he would have never made it so far . I am really not sure what it is about him that has connected to the moderate white base . I should think it’s the gender alone when compared to the alternate candidate Amy.
11
@Aks Wait until AOC runs in 4 years.
2
@Aks He connects with the moderate base of the democratic party because he is young (we don't need to elect 70 year old politicians to the WH), he's smart, articulate, knows what he wants to accomplish and how to do it and recognizes the absolute imperative that the one at the top of the ticket MUST have the ability to generate 'down ballot' votes - meaning it means nothing if either is elected President UNLESS the House retains its current majority AND that the SENATE is flipped. We cannot endure another 6 years of Mitch McConnell. THINK about the Supreme Court. Trump is already demanding that Ginsberg and Sotomeyor recuse themselves from cases in which Trump is involved. THINK OF THAT!!!!
7
What I observe causes me to believe that she IS belittling and verbally abusive to her staff. She has a hair trigger response to perceived criticism. I don’t think she plays well with others. I can’t imagine that she listens well.
The last dust-up with Buttigieg was off-putting. I could see that mean streak that runs through her. As a child of an alcoholic myself, I know that that experience shapes personality. Having said all that, I will RUN not walk to vote for her if she is on the ticket! Anyone but Trump!
17
All the same "journalists" who say Sen Sanders cannot win in 2020 all thought Hillary could not lose in 2016. They all said many times that Trump was totally unelectable too, and after he won they all said the economy would crash. The political landscape has changed a lot in the western world. Many of these "journalists" are analog, but we are living in a new digital world. The Onion of Chicago gets it perfectly saying Sanders "views could make him bigger risk in general election than moderate winners Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, and Al Gore."
3
Pete is actually intelligent and has incredible political talent. However this primary and election goes, you would have to be a fool to think he isn’t a key part of the future of this party. And I say this as someone who disagrees with him on policy, he is certainly not my candidate but it’s difficult not to be extremely impressed. He has that je ne sais quoi that Obama had.
Amy is a joke. Shocking she is even in the Senate and Pete is 100% right when he points out simply sitting in the most reviled political body in the country doesn’t make you qualified for president. She’s arrogant, shallow, and simply isn’t very well informed. How can you not name the President of Mexico? That’s not a gotcha question. You have to wonder how many of those 100 bills she passed completely ignorant of the subject matter or context. After her last debate performance, is there any doubt she is abusive toward her staff? She should drop out now before she gets embarrassed in her home state on Super Tuesday.
23
Neither Klobuchar nor Buttigieg is a compelling candidate.
Klobuchar is living in La La land if she thinks that "being nice" to Republicans is going to work. Was she not paying attention when McConnell refused to allow Obama's Supreme Court nominee to be considered? Any Dem who can't see that the Repubs are dealing in bad faith is a fool. Klomentum, my foot.
Buttigieg on the other hand is a total disaster, an apologist for the Republicans and kleptocratic billionaires at best. I am not impressed that he can speak in complete sentences. So can Dinesh D'Souza.
6
Are you sure they’re not working for Trump? It certainly seems that way, doesn’t it?
1
Two Kids in the back seat, during a long car trip. Don’t make me stop this Car !!!
Knock it off. We have more important things to discuss.
Seriously.
6
Pete lacks experience and Amy has it? In my opinion, experience is over-rated. To be a good president, you need intelligence, balance, maturity, and the right values. I think Like Obama, Pete has those qualities. Those are things you can't learn or fake.
45
"The gloves are off."
Will the Times quit with the [expletive] sports metaphors, already? This election is serious. Klobuchar and Buttigieg are serious candidates for an incredbily serious job.
In case those few remaining souls with cushy jobs in the elite corridors of journalism missed the message: this country is collapsing: our health care system is a mess, our jobs are going overseas, climate change is going to destroy our planet, income inequality is soaring, education is unaffordable, and our CDC (not doubt contrary to the wishes of a sitting president) has conceded that the coronavirus is going to be one heck of a cluster---- when it hits.
This story is written like this is some bloody major league baseball playoff. Heads up: The future of American democracy is at play. In real time. And the Times is on the front line. And this article misses that story. Completely.
Unless of course you know (as cable news does) that nothing will be better for the bottom line than four (or more) years of rule under Trump.
Choose your sides.
1
I was into 'Pete's' run, thought highly of much of what he had to say...until the debate and his caustic disrespect...now, I wouldn't vote for him for dog catcher
7
Her smallness and petty vindictiveness were on full display this last debate. Klobuchar was absolutely desperate to get back at Buttigieg after he called her out on something she should have known. Absolutely desperate. Instead of admitting a mistake and gracefully moving on, she insisted on showcasing her petulance for all to see. She looked the fool.
17
What is so great about all of this is that a woman and a gay man are battling it out to become President of the United States... !!
It doesn't matter if they bit and claw at each other ... That's just popcorn munching background noise...
What matters is that -any- woman can become President of the United States!
What matters if that -any- gay man can become President of the United States!
It might not happen in 2020- but it will happen!
Oftentimes -in the dark stinky filled clouds of Trumpism- We really have forgotten have very far we've come.
2
@Allen Yeager in this country it will be a gay man before it's ever a woman.
2
As a New Yorker who's moved around the country a bit, the Midwest was my only culture shock experience. Where I come from, Brooklyn before it was hip, different was good. So it took me a while to figure out that when a Midwesterner says 'that's different' it's like when a Southerner says 'well bless your soul' - damned with a smile.
I think having to act nice ALL the time warps your brain. I think with Klobuchar behind all that 'Midwest nice' is a whole lot of Midwest nasty. And when she's knocked off her game the masks shift out of alignment and she falls apart.
With Buttigieg, however he sells himself as a Midwest mayor, really he may be from the Midwest but not of the Midwest. What you see is what you get. Solid. Steady on his feet.
15
I fail to see the value of this article and wonder why the NYT spends more energy on publishing borderline celebrity click-baits multiple times per day (like a live feed) than it spends on news coverage. Instead of wasting readers' time drumming up juicy TV politics around two people who will be completely irrelevant to national discourse in a matter of weeks, maybe publish your historically respectable take on the dozens of other news stories coming up on multiple other credible outlets.
3
I love you, NYT, but this non-story is beneath you.
7
Amy Klobuchar reflects much of the frustration experienced by legions of professional women who have been overlooked and passed over for the next boy wonder. Amy is clearly more qualified than Mayor Pete - having spent two terms in the Senate, passed many bills showing a real ability to reach across the aisle and 8 years in state politics heading the state prosecutor's office - yet here she is vying with a 36 year old mayor of a small town for the centrist slot on the democratic ticket. Qualified women have been passed over and ignored by unqualified men for centuries and I'm glad she is calling out Mayor Pete's unwarranted hubris in this election.
47
@Janine As a woman working in technology at Fortune 50s for 20 years, I share her frustration and relate to much of what you've said here. What frustrates me almost as much, is that "getting emotional" is no more accepted in the professional sphere than the political spotlight, and every time I see females in power behave like Klobuchar behaved, it brings the rest of us down.
11
@Janine Do you take out your frustration by physically and mentally abusing your subordinates? If not, then you're more qualified than Klobuchar. I don't care what her paper qualifications are, her abusive behavior is the biggest disqualifier possible in my book.
12
@M: indeed! Reading through these comments, what stands out is how the criticism of Klobuchar comes down to her being "emotional" and "angry" and "mean."
Look at Bernie. He's emotional and angry and mean (talking about billionaires), but no one minds. Amy sounds off and suddenly she's a terrible candidate who ought to get out of the way of all the white guys.
9
Every time I hear Buttigieg talk, I think he sounds like a really smart guy who has little to no experience to back up his intellect. If I'm correct, he graduated from college, spent a couple of years as a Rhodes Scholar, worked for McKinsey for three years, was active duty for seven months, and a mayor of a midsize city for 8 years. So the only role where he spent a sufficient amount of time to get something done was as mayor of South Bend. His limited background doesn't provide much of a perch from which to critique senators and vice-presidents based on his "expertise." It's far easier to sound intelligent taking shots at others than it is to wade into Washington and the incredible complexity of the federal government and actually get things done.
30
@Brad Harrington Pete is smart and polished...and seemingly dead inside. He'd make a great Fortune 50 CEO.
8
@Brad Harrington I think he has great experience for a young man and as Mayor he has executive experience which puts him in touch with ordinary voters.
If years in the senate are what is important, than Mitch McConnell should be the next president.
5
@Brad Harrington Let's see, did Pete have to build a budget, get it passed, and live within it? Yes. Has he had to deal with state and national officials to get grants? Yes, he has. And he has done so. Has he handled a sizable staff - more than any individual member of Congress? He oversaw a thousand employees. He doesn't have a limited background. He has had to work as an executive.
Amy has done things, she used jailhouse snitches to win a case - the case was tossed because of her actions, she sits on a committee that oversees border security and didn't know the name of the president of the country we are most concerned about. Her record on DACA mirrors that of the republicans, she has voted for more right wing judges than anyone else on the Democratic side of the aisle, and she has a temper that is out of control. She won't admit when she is wrong. She picks endless fights for the heck of it. And she throws things. This is presidential behavior? One more thing, she wouldn't allow a prisoner, who couldn't make bail, to attend his mother's funeral. Only thing she's been able to accomplish is chaos and animosity. That's what we are dealing with now.
6
I sent my mail-in ballot (yay Washington State for having a secure, convenient voting system!) yesterday - voted for Amy Klobuchar. Sanders is not a Democrat, Sanders, Biden, probably Warren and maybe Bloomberg are just too old. Pete is just way too inexperienced, and America is not ready to elect a gay man. Klobuchar is the right age, with the right experience, and the right ideas - she deserves the nomination.
26
@Patricia If it comes to that, America is not ready to elect a woman. That shouldn't be the ground not to vote for someone
I’m really enjoying watching these two take each other out. Bicker yourselves into irrelevance and let a progressive lead the ticket.
1
A progressive does not belong on a presidential ticket. The the house, senate and Supreme Court are more important than us learning the hard way how badly swing states don’t like socialism.
Progressives are for house and select senate seats only- if you act want SOME of their ideas put in place. If you are all or none, then be prepared for the resounding none.
Among Klobuchar's accomplishments in Washington was voting to confirm Trump's nominees for federal judges. This alone would disqualify Klobuchar for the Democratic nomination.
37
@Paul: C'mon. She voted for some nominees but for the past two years, she's voted against the Trump choices.
4
We don't need another Democratic candidate for President who feels entitled and bristles at anyone who disagrees.
26
If we're talking about experience, let's not forget about her record in Minnesota and mishandling of the Myon Burrell case. Her constant play of the gender card is risky given that it is mostly directed towards a gay (albeit white) man, whose experience she constantly degrades. Unfortunately, that makes her sound condescending and weak.
42
It is not condescending if he actually has no relevant experience.
7
This rivalry depresses me. I'm watching my two favorite remaining candidates shred each other and it turns my stomach.
I have donated to Amy on a few occasions and she has been my number 1. I want Minnesota nice. I want an experienced woman who can win in red states. Why is she letting him rattle her?
Pete is probably my other favorite on the stage. I like his cool. I like his thoughtfulness. He is wise way beyond his years. So why is he taking cheap shots at her?
This is having two friends who hate each other or watching your parents fight. Nothing good is going to come of this and both of them are diminishing in my eyes.
You know who looked the best to me after the last debate? Steyer.
16
@Bill Apparently “Minnesota nice” means being nice to corporate donors, but vicious to rivals and your own staff. In any case, I think you should start preparing yourself to vote for Bernie in the general election.
2
@sedanchair I will vote anyone who is not Trump, don't you worry.
2
My sense is that Amy Klobuchar has been told her entire life that "you should be the first woman President." As such, she has been focused on this goal forever. Now, just when she thinks this goal may be within her grasp, out of nowhere appears Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of a small city in Indiana, and threatens to destroy her dream. It is fascinating to watch her interact with him. He literally "triggers" her, and he knows it. Her "Minnesota Nice" phoniness disappears, and you can see her underlying unpleasantness. She is constantly reminding everyone that her father is a recovering alcoholic. My guess is that he was a nasty drunk. She doesn't even need booze to turn up the nasty.
26
@Pedro
Right, so accomplished women should never show a bit of temper when 'triggered' by sanctimoniously smug young men who are secretly closet misogynists. Got it.
15
@Pedro you and the rest of the "disappointed" here are exaggerating her response. You would think he triggered her into homicidal mania reading these comments. Unfortunately, she got rattled, yes. But she wasn't the aggressor in this. He was rude , arrogant and offensive.
1
Neither Buttigieg nor Klobuchar are ready for prime time just yet.
4
I think Senator Klobuchar was hoping for a Bernie/Elizabeth moment that never happened. While the Senator did not appear dumb, she sounded whiny and was clearly manipulating the moment.
Her record as a Senator is unimpressive. Her campaign has mirrored that. She will not be elected, nor win a place in a future cabinet, not because of her gender, because she lacks gravitas.
16
Every time Pete says something arrogant and rude and know it all, it rankles me so much. I hope Amy can but him in his place.
12
@Nikki But Klobuchar being nasty and arrogant and rude is just fine (woman writing, before you jump on that).
2
If the writer of this column had accurately presented what actually happened in the exchange, he would have included the fact that it was the moderator who brought up the fact that on a Telemundo interview, Klobuchar could not name the Mexican president. After Klobuchar's response to the moderator, the moderator turned to Buttigieg and asked what his response was to Klobuchar. That's when he said he didn't think the issue was trivial. He did not orginally go on the attack on this issue; rather, the moderator set up the situation, Klobachur had a chance to respond, and then Buttigieg was asked what he thought of that response.
I expect more from the NYT. Do your job.
87
@E. D.: Not quite, Buttigieg interrupted AK as she was owning up to her memory lapse. The Telemundo questioner, by the way, posed the question to Klobuchar in true "gotcha' style. It wasn't a question, but a snarling accusation.
8
Finally a woman who cuts in. Good on her.
9
I’m sorry but I find Klobuchar insufferable.
30
NY Times - I do not appreciate this shrill woman trope that keeps being rolled out election after election. Who wouldn’t be peeved to be lectured by a small town mayor armed with debate skills and billionaire friends? Amy is the only candidate willing to acknowledge all the free programs offered up by the others will not work and cannot be afforded or sustained. I’ll take pragmatism over polish every time.
21
This horrible woman cloaks herself in the aura of ‘undervalued womanhood’ while delivering the most condescending remarks to the mayor. And then when eventually attacked back, her demeanor crumbles and all that is revealed is very thin skin that would not allow her to withstand Trump’s criticism or be able to perform well as president considering that presidents are viciously criticized on a daily basis. She’s a goner.
36
First, why is she “horrible?” Is that a trumpism?”
Second, what triggered your response—thin-skinned, histrionic perhaps? Could it be you believe women should never snap back at a man? Take gender out if the conversation. Would it look less, oh, hysterical or shrill or horrible?
6
Klobuchar needs to cap her irritation factor. It spikes exponentially if facts unfavorable to her surface as in Mexico Facts. She has a bad reputation with her staff and a performance as Nevada kinda seals that reputation.
20
Anything less than Klobuchar speaking Spanish fluently will work for her. If she's serious about staying in this race--learn Spanish
Andale Pues!
1
Everyone loves a cat fight.
7
The dustup last week between these two was very revealing to me, and led me to strike Sen. Klobuchar off my list of "could vote for..." candidates. She twice came quite unglued in a way that I thought revealing and unbecoming of a person angling for the presidency. Buttigieg's jibes were, I thought, nothing but glancing blows--the kind of trivialities that characterize the low level of "discourse" in our politics. Klobuchar's reactions were entirely out of keeping with the thrust-and-parry of the moment, and I strongly felt that 'here is a person who can, just as our current president, be lit up by minor scrapes and perceived slights, and is capable of escalating situations that call for restraint.'
Mayor Buttigieg definitely came out the better in those encounters by just holding ground, rhetorically, and appeared far better equipped to deal with the heat. I draw no conclusion regarding his own comparative abilities in other respects, but in this one regard, I would see him as the more 'grounded' and confident candidate.
Some will no doubt perceive in my comments a 'male bias' and an accusation of emotional lability, tied to females generally. Not so. As a person highly educated in law, debate, and spirited colloquy, she needed to show that she could give and take in a high-stakes situation--but twice failed the test.
57
But your commentary presents Klobuchar as you perceived her, therefore it is biased based on your experience. Could Klobuchar’s snap at Mayor Pete be similar to the way a mother responds to a 15-year-old son who was just told “no” and is doing that last-word kind of arguing that drives a nail right between a mother’s eyes. The look, the tone, the precise clip of each word that clearly says, “do not push me.” Been on both sides of that, myself.
5
@Robert: you apparently discounted Klobuchar's sterling debate performance in New Hampshire.
Sounds like male bias to me.
7
Their exchanges make both of them and the party seem silly, small minded and petty.
2
Whew, falcon versus velociraptor! No love lost here in the traffic clog of the middle lane. No cabinet post for either of them in the administration of the other, and I doubt that Trump has a backwater slot on his team of vipers.
4
He's ahead of her because he received more votes!!!!!!!!!
She is not popular. It is not because of her Gender. It's because of her rude personality on complete display for all to see. She needs to save her contributors money and get out NOW!!!!!!
46
Amy Klobuchar is a thin skinned light weight. She’s been let off the hook because of her gender. Terrible boss, sore loser. Initially she was my first choice. The reports by her staff of her abuse were compelling. Her debate melt down was beyond childish. Ugh.
37
I'm not a big fan of Amy Klobuchar, but in the Nevada debate I think it was Buttigieg who came off far worse - nasty, petty, and smug. Buttigieg, in my opinion, believes in nothing but his own ambition. He thinks American voters are stupid. I don't think Klobuchar was wrong in believing that Buttigieg was deliberately insulting her. And though I'm not a knee-jerk feminist - I'm not automatically for the women candidate unless I like the person and her ideals - I think Klobuchar is right that a woman who tried to pull what Pete Buttigieg is doing would be laughed off the stage.
16
@ARW
Can you even imagine a woman with the same resume as Pete, married to another woman and talking about 'starting a family' (as Pete and Chasten are), getting within miles of a Presidential debate stage ?
10
@irene Well as a recall Hillary Clinton was the democrat nominee in 2016, but we have never had a gay nominee. Gays face far more discrimination than women.
2
We have never knowingly had a gay candidate—or for that matter, President. It used to be you “knew,” you just didn’t talk about it (none of our business). If it wasn’t for the discrimination from antisocial types who hate and fear everyone but themselves, who insist on making our most private, personal choices hot-button topics, who shoot past discussion into phlegmatic rants, things would be OK.
Come on, NYT. You couldn't find an actual Midwesterner to write about Midwesterners?
"A New Jersey native, Mr. Corasaniti was most recently the Times's correspondent from the Garden State, covering the politics, policy, people, trains, beaches and eccentricities that give the Garden State its charm."
8
Pete is consistency calm and level headed
Klobuchar's Midwest nice mask finally dropped and she showed everyone what her staff and everyone on Capital Hill has known for years. She is a very nasty person with anger issues. She's been voted the worst boss on Capital Hill and has the very highest staff turnover out of all 100 senators.
Don't believe me?
Google "Amy Klobuchar and treatment of staff" and you will see loads of articles backing up exactly what I just said
57
You've got to hand it to Buttigieg for one thing, even if it has been painful to behold: He succeeded in cracking Klobuchar's mask and we saw her get consumed by vainly defending herself as a person instead of staying focused on "fighting for" the people. It was literally her key message this whole time, and I admired it despite its cringe-worthiness in terms of typical politician rhetoric. Nobody else has cracked like that... except for Warren. Bummer. I don't particularly want Buttigieg as President, but I thank him for this public service.
18
Who cares? Why is the NYT covering this?
How does this possibly matter?
Soap opera journalism.
6
Ok. Let's try a more simplistic approach. Maybe Pete simply doesn't believe she is a good candidate. She definitely thinks she is more entitled. She basically said so. The most salient point of all is this--They are running for President right now. It is THE ONLY ARENA THAT MATTERS. Not what other votes anyone may have secured previous. If she was awesome at winning, she'd be doing it.
73
Ok, so they’re going after the same voters, the so-called MidWest moderates. I get it. But how big a segment is that, anyway, and does it really matter much? The first rung is the big, big blue states, like CA, NY, and MA. Then the big but contested states like FL. And finally, a couple of swing states that mainly matter in relation to how the big states vote, the most important of which I take to be PA, which is not small next to an Indiana or Iowa. By comparison, those nicey nice MidWest places and hot dish voters all together don’t amount to much in comparison to young voters nationwide, or suburban women, or elderly black women mainly in the South and Great Migration states and not out in the cornfields and soy belts where most voters are Republicans anyway.
5
@Pottree "young voters nationwide"
"Nationwide" is meaningless. There are 51 presidential elections in November. The candidate who wins enough electors from, mostly, winner take all states, gets the job.
So the hot dish Midwest states matter, a lot, as Hillary found out. As does Pennsylvania (and of course the big ones like California and Texas).
PS A lot of African Americans live in Milwaukee, and Detroit. They are in the Midwest, too,
3
@Pottree Bad idea to write off Midwestern votes. You can't win without them.
5
@Pottree
"...those nicey nice MidWest places and hot dish voters all together don’t amount to much..."
Weak.
And it's "Midwest," genius.
2
There are many solid politicians who have been working assiduously for the constituents for decades, but Pete is a once in generation talent. Listen to him, absolutely brilliant, calm and very well read.
Yes he is inexperienced but except from Hilary Clinton, no one can seriously say I am ready for the Presidency based on my experience. He will learn fast, because he is an academic, street smart and humble enough to have the best minds and policy makers surrounding him.
114
@syy96
Pete is indeed a fast learner. He's already learned how to charm billionaire donors into supporting him and switching his positions on issues that matter to them.
12
@syy96 "Pete is a once in generation talent"
I would argue Pete is not a once in a generational talent.
I have met many Petes in my work in and around state and federal policy. I have met Rhodes scholars, elite consultants and many veterans in the policy space. They work hard and take the opportunities presented to them. They generally constitute the professional-political class.
Pete just got luckier than most.
He has wanted to be president his entire life and it comes off in the worst way possible to anyone who has met that kind of person in their life.
That's also why millennials by-and-large despise him.
He's what old people think a young person should be.
His words are vapid, pretty, and flow frequently, but if you stop and pay attention to the content, he says nothing.
He provides no new ideas, no novel solutions, no way to bring the country forward that hasn't been focus tested to death, just critique for the sake of making himself sound smart.
Pete is 100% flash and 0% substance.
Most young folks I know see right through that.
13
@Speah - Wow! I'm guessing you don't like Pete.
Neither are going anywhere as far as a presidential nomination goes. The suggestion that they both drop out has already floated nation wide. Super Tuesday will finally winnow the field. What is going to happen is Sanders will continue to lead and the scaredy cats will coalesce around Bloomberg. This is Bloomberg's stratigy and how the press has not arrived at something so obvious is troubling.
11
They both are not ready for the most important position in the World. I like both and will support in general if either gets there.
8
I like both of them but prefer Amy over Pete because she has experience in the senate, has be able to build consensus across party lines and speaks about the people we rarely hear about from candidates. Pete, a good candidate, is from a small city (100,000 population) and has no national/international experience. What I do not want is another inexperienced person in the White House.
9
@Vivi How about Mitch McConnell for President? He has far more years experience in the senate than Klobucher.
2
i don't understand why some of these candidates don't come to the realization that they just don't have a chance of beating Trump. I won't name names, but i think it's pretty obvious who doesn't have a chance of winning the seat. What's the point of carrying on when you don't stand a chance? My opinion, of course, but an honest question. Why do they continue?
3
@neetz
Chances that after Super Tuesday, Klobuchar, Buttigieg, and possibly Warren concede and suspend their campaigns. The results will show they cannot build a coalition and their campaign funding will dry up.
I just voted for Klobuchar today, not because I am enamored of her, but because she is solid in many ways, and has experience.
14
Mayor Buttigieg has apparently concluded that VP Biden is not going to go the distance; and that Mayor Bloomberg has too much baggage.
.
If that's the case, he needs to position himself to be the only one left standing who isn't Senator Sanders or Senator Warren.
.
Which necessarily means pushing Senator Klobuchar off the field and out of the race.
.
For Senator Klobuchar, the important thing is to be viable for the same reason, but she isn't trying to do it be doing down others.
5
Amy K's behavior from the get-go towards Pete B is one of disdain and a clear sense of jealousy. How audacious can this little town mayor be to aim for the presidency, when she has worked in the Hill for many years? The argument she has been raising would have been fine, but the manner and the temperament she has been displaying is very demeaning and so unprofessional. I was rooting for her. Since she started showing this behavior in the debates, cutting into other candidates' time and constanting taunting "her accomplishments," one wonders why she needs to do these display of aggressiveness and hostility? This, to me, is unpresidential and she claims that women are treated differently. I will dare say and risk the ire of women, that showing your dire emotions on national TV will not win you votes. We already have a temperamental, angry, and hostile occupant in the WH. We do not need another one.
130
@EP I agree with you that showing dire emotions on national TV hurts a candidate more than help them. Regardless of gender! As a woman, I cringe every time a female candidate's voice gets shaky or they refer to their gender unprompted. Men can't get away with it, either.
9
@EP - I'm an old woman and agree with you completely.
1
Klobuchar was not only condescending toward Buttigieg, she was dismissive of the questioner at the debate, who was a Telemundo reporter/editor, a woman, and Hispanic. In the original Telemundo interview, Klobuchar did not merely forget the Mexican President's name. Her apparent ignorance extended way beyond a momentary memory lapse, and that is what the Telemundo editor pointed out during the debate. Buttigieg didn't criticize Klobuchar for merely forgetting a name; he criticized her for trying to trivialize the issue of not being well prepared for an interview on Latin American issues with a Spanish speaking news source. Klobuchar's original interview with Telemundo is on-line; watch it and judge for yourself whether Klobuchar merely forgot a name.
136
@DM Sorry, the Telemundo reporter - and her question - was awful: much to-do...
If we look beyond "the feud" to the substantial issues behind it, I have to say that Amy Klobuchar doesn't come off well at all. It appears that it wasn't just that she momentarily forgot the name of the Mexican president, as she claimed during the debate, but rather that she barely knew what he name was (she had to look down at her papers when she did finally name him.) And the moderator from Telemundo who was questioning her seemed to be saying that not only was Klobuchar unable to come up with his name, but that she seemed unable speak on the subject of relations with Mexico in general (the question about this unfortunately never got addressed in the general commotion.)
As for Buttigieg's critique of her voting record on Trump judges, he's not the only one who's had serious concerns on that score. See, for example, Nick Corasaniti's recent NYTimes piece on the subject:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/24/us/politics/amy-klobuchar-trump-judges.html
I like the IDEA of an Amy Klobuchar candidacy—a safe if uninspiring choice who would theoretically stand an excellent chance of beating Trump in the states that matter in November. The more I learn about her, though, the less sanguine I am about her campaign. Merely saying repeatedly that you have handily won numerous elections in the Midwest is not enough.
64
Running for president has not been a good thing for Amy Klobuchar. The truth about a person generally comes out in a national race, and it has for her. She is not decent to her staff - she blames them publicly for failings that are her responsibility and she is abusive towards them. She pulls the woman card every time questions are raised about her or things don't go her way. She is thin-skinned when asked about her record. She feels she has checked all the boxes to be president, and Buttigieg hasn't, and it drives her crazy that he gets any attention. Well, Buttigieg is a more compelling person than Klobuchar, not that that makes him qualified to be president now. I have voted for Klobuchar three times in her Senate races, but that's only because there was no other choice. I won't feel so comfortable voting for her again. As a senator, Klobuchar was able to hide some of this negative personality stuff from the voting public. Now though, it is all out there for Minnesotans to see.
59
@Olaf Can you point me to some of these negative personality examples the naysayers keep bringing up? So far, she seems like a class act, and very experienced and knowledgeable. I really like her. Are these negative comments about her so called abuses of staff merely an example of a tough woman (translation, female boss), who expects her staff to work as hard as she does?
8
@Olaf Maybe it's time for Al Franken to take a bow.
2
@beatgirl99 Well for one thing, her churlishness and condescension to Pete Buttigieg (and other candidates) onstage falls far short of a "class act." And you only need to find verified reports of her abusing staff and throwing office supplies at them. This behavior goes back decades https://www.huffpost.com/entry/amy-klobuchar-mistreat-staff-harry-reid_n_5c5db1ece4b03afe8d674530 She has the highest staff turnover in the Senate for a reason. Anyone who abuses staff in the manner she does is unfit to hold office, regardless of gender. Abuse is never ok, and abuse towards subordinates shows ones true colors.
9
Let's see.
A 38 year old white male; retired 8-year naval intelligence lieutenant; and 8-year mayor of a midwestern city of 100,000;
Vs.
A 59 year old white female; 13-year member and partner of a law firm; 8-year county attorney; and 14 year U.S. senator who has passed over 100 bills for which she was lead sponsor.
Which one has a better understanding and capability of getting things done?
11
@Ed Based in their answers, the mayor.
11
Easy- mayor Pete
9
@Ed
Neither person can offer America a compelling vision for the future, and neither can assemble a coalition, outside of white middle-class or upper-middle class suburbia.
Thus, neither will be president.
3
Klobuchar’s three terms in the Senate and what is she known for? That she can’t even manage her staff? I think after one has been a legislator for a long time, it’s easy to confuse debating and voting (and I’d say coalition building, if she did that) as “doing something”. A governor would be preferable, but in the absence of that, I think being mayor of a mid-sized rust belt diverse industrial city (which btw, is not a “college town”) is a good second. Especially when you consider the large Catholic presence in that city that twice elected a gay man as their leader. Generally those who would vote against a gay man simply because he was gay probably would not be voting Democratic in any case.
When you couple his political and leadership experiences with his military service - and his youth and energy - you have a much more compelling candidate. And I know this isn’t Amy, but God help this country from the five septuagenarians competing for office. What have we come to?
43
She acts as if she's jealous of Pete. Whatever it is it doesn't look good for her, especially with her reputation of being a nightmare to work for.
76
Amy's churlishness can be off-putting. She personalizes statements and interrupts too much. Yes, I understand that she may not like competition from the "cool newcomer" but I don't find Pete mean-spirited as he comments, yet I do many of the times that Amy comments or responds. They do have different manners and mannerisms.
74
As an initial fan of Klobuchar for Prez going back to Kavanaugh hearings, who then cooled to her with NYTimes' staff treatment stories, and later a big fan of Buttigieg for his smarts, articulation and being a historically significant candidate - millennial and openly gay - I have watched this relationship closely. While Pete was obviously going to distinguish himself from the many senators running and stress WA dysfunction in contrast to his Midwestern executive experience, Klobuchar took this personally (which was unnecessary) and always attacked him in a personal, belittling, non-substantive way, i.e. basically he's too young and shouldn't be on stage. In contrast, Pete had a more substantive critique of her last debate - i.e. her voting on Trump judges/past support of English as official language. She, in response, looked ready to throw a binder at him. It was super awkward, but important to see! It's a shame millennials weren't incensed by the "Pete is too young" argument and never really got on board with him, although I fully understand why Bernie stirs more passion in that cohort. At any rate, Pete and Amy are quickly becoming irrelevant in the race. It would be stupid and pointless if they use any of tonight's debate going after each other.
26
I was a fan of Klobuchar after I saw her in the Kavanaugh hearings. However, that quickly wore off after I watched her try to take down Buttigieg in debate after debate. She is obsessed with him. She isn't really running for President, she is just there to try to take down Buttigieg. She has no real path to the nomination at this point, so I am not sure what her reasons are for staying in the race.
92
Why does Pete Buttigieg make Amy Klobuchar shake with rage? Because he is incredibly smart and appropriately well-informed on the issues; he never loses his cool; and he says the right thing at the right time. It drives her mad. It makes her want to eat salad with a comb and yell at her staffers. Klobuchar thinks it is her turn, that Buttigieg should step aside because she has been in Washington for decades and deserves her shot. I disagree. Her fundraising is poor, her results in the three primaries have been poor, and she hasn't convinced me she has what it takes to beat Donald Trump. She accused Buttigieg of being overly scripted but I think that is entirely wrong: Buttigieg is the only candidate who listens, thinks, and responds in the moment and doesn't resort to stump speeches and scripted one-liners. I am all in on Pete Buttigieg, and am going to write him another $100 check right now.
127
@John Godfrey Clearly Amy Klobuchar's poor campaign performance is not her fault. How could it be? It must be her staff that has done so poorly and made her look bad, perhaps too many of them are men sabotaging her to preserve male dominance?
My first inclination a year ago was to support Amy, but then the stories, not one but many about her poor leadership style came to light. So I looked a bit further and found Mayor Pete. These continued attacks by Amy do convince folks, but to vote for someone else instead of her. The guy is brilliant. I wish he connected better with people (He has a bit of that earnest Young Republican about him), but I would put him in the "Arena" any day against Donald Trump. I just sent him another $50 as well. It's certainly been an interesting election so far.
13
@Paul Roberts Well said, Paul!
6
@John Godfrey
Pete is as good as it gets.
He would be the perfect president.
Instead, the Dems are being beaten into submission by a cult leader who refuses to be a team player and now wants us to just lay down and play dead and roll over and let him and his barbarians dominate us.
I love Pete.
8
The longer Klobuchar stays in this race the more damage she does to herself and the party. We've had 3 states votes already and the best she's placed was 3rd (and called it a victory). You claim you've never lost a race? Your performance in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada suggest differently, and we've seen your electability argument is bankrupt. Drop out already. All you're going to show by staying in is a penchant for vindictiveness and your inability to respond to valid criticism with anything other than hostility. With each debate, the idea of her as a stapler thrower becomes for plausible.
75
Buttigieg = hubris. Only a white man would think he could make a serious run for president at age 38 and after serving as mayor of a city of 100k people. And only a sexist electorate used to assuming white men should have authority would vote for him. So I guess Pete’s audacity is being rewarded.
Don’t get me wrong: I would vote for Pete or any of the Democrats (and one socialist) in a heartbeat over the dangerous man in the White House. But I am hopeful we will have a candidate, male or female, with more relevant experience than Pete’s. Judgment is based in large part on intelligently interpreting one’s experiences. But one has to have worked in the crucible of Washington politics to best understand its challenges.
24
The knives had to come out at some time. There are still too many people in the race and only one will be left standing at the end. Being nice will not cut it. At least Pete and Amy each gave as good as they got as opposed to Bloomberg being ethered by Warren in the last debate..
I don't get the experience argument, I really don't. Nothing prepares a person to be POTUS, incumbents learn on the job from Day One. What matters is whether the individual is up to the task and has or appears to have the character to lead the nation, present occupant of the Oval Office aside.
15
Ms. Amy was but one of the three democratic candidates we were seriously considering until she demonstrated that she felt threatened and lashed out. She lost us. Bye, Amy.
Down to two.
God, please deliver America from itself.
35
I think super Tuesday will be the defining test for both of these candidates. Tonight's debate could get nasty because of super Tuesday being only one week away.
4
Frankly, Klobuchar can play her gender bias card with a straight male candidate. Gay people face too many obstacles in this country to hear someone dismiss Buttigieg or say things were easy for him bc he’s white and a male. Things were easier for Booker bc he’s straight; things were easier for Klobuchar bc she’s straight, and I don’t hear people using that as a way to erase the racism or sexism they must have faced in society. Klobuchar can drop this nonsense line of attack.
42
@IntentReader This is biased, but I'm glad you honestly said it.
2
Buttigieg is a clever debater. But he’s woefully inexperienced. He’s simply not ready. Klobuchar is ready. But I wish they’d both drop out and stop splitting the vote. Neither has the goods to make it.
7
Senator Klobuchar (whom I like and respect) seems to be driving 99% of this animosity. I just don't get it. It makes her seem thin skinned and petty. She needs to be making the case for her ideas, policies and character, not attacking someone else who espouses much of the same and has brought fresh ideas and energy to the party. She needs to rapidly admit (to herself if no-one else) that Mayor Peter has gained attention and support for his ideas and extremely frank and effective communication. Frankly his ability to communicate and make a case for himself ha been much better than Klobuchar's and that's why he was leading her, not because he's a man.
She should reflect and up her game and case for herself if she wants to continue and quit this misguided and ineffective assault on Mayor Pete.
79
Truthfully, each of the D candidates should be highlighting themselves, not bickering with each other. Klobuchar sponsored 100 bills? What were they? What was the result of those passages? How are they relevant to me? Mayor Pete says he’s faced challenges equal to the Senator’s. Fine, describe them and explain how they compare. The ONLY time a candidate should be able to refer to another’s resume is to point out misleading figures and outright lies.
4
Both of them should drop out immediately if they underperform in SC. Warren should have dropped out last week. Speyer has long overstayed his welcome.
4
Amy Klobuchar has gone after Pete Buttigieg from the get-go. She just cannot get over the fact that he is, for a totally unknown commodity a year ago, is leagues ahead of her in thought, articulation and charisma. And let's not forget this: Amy Klobuchar voted to confirm a Trump judge who has said vile things about gay people and has ruled that businesses can refuse service to LGBTQ people if it is against their "faith".
That's the guy Ms. Klobuchar voted to confirm. I think there is homophobia in her hostility toward Mr. Buttigieg.
61
Mayor Pete is a sharp guy, for sure, but he always strikes me as smug and condescending. His well-rehearsed zingers are getting tired. I’m with Amy...
11
I watched the full Telemundo interview with Senator Klobuchar (I'd encourage you to look it up on YouTube). It was painful. It wasn't just the president's name. The senator knew *nada* about him or Mexican policy. She got an unwarranted bail-out from Senator Warren, considering that she's on the Senate committee of Border Security and Immigration.
59
@Michael
Telemundo also reported that after the interview, Klobuchar left in a rush with her mic still on, and then returned later to confront the interviewer, telling him that she knew more than he thought she did.
7
Pete and Amy are my two favorite candidates, so it really stinks that they can’t get along and amplify their similar messages
4
As two of the "ONLY SO FAR" faction they each in their own way are good examples where that leads.
1
Aren't these the self-branded "unity" candidates?
4
Half the time in the debates Klobuchar sounds like she wants to rip someone's head off. The other half she sounds like he's on the verge of tears. I'm not sure those are the two emotional states I want to have my president most associated with. There's passion, and then there's the desperation attached to knowing you only have the backing of about 4 percent of the country.
43
She is the one who is consistently defensive and entitled. Pete, one can easily see, wants to debate rather than pick a fight, the latter of which is her MO with him.
61
I feel that Amy is unable to take legitimate criticism, her record on appointing trump judges is atrocious, and she has personally backed one of his suspected future supreme court nominees. Americans are sick of politicians basing their entire campaigns on experience when that experience doesn't even reflect the views they tout. Klobuchar needs to take a hard look at her platform, experience does not alone make a president, you need policy, and more importantly, values that reflect the electorates, Amy has neither.
37
Buttigieg is whip-smart but is clueless about his own blind spots that stand in the way of connecting with people who are/think different.
His effort to broaden experience as a mayor and in the military hasn’t really changed his McKinsey guy thinking and overconfidence about solving America’s problems.
South Bend, IN is not far from here and as the town of Notre Dame’s community it has Starbucks, Apple Store, Whole Foods, ...
Definitely not your typical Midwest town.
He did not have great success with the poorer, blue collar community that this town does also have. It’s too early for him. Let’s see if he can run a city like Chicago, a state, or have impact in Congress.
11
Neither has any shot to be president in 2020- it's a complete waste of voters' time, attention and votes at this point- that goes for Tom Steyer as well.
4
Between the two my choice is Pete Buttigieg , Amy Klobuchar is slowly losing her sustenance, money being the main problem.
Pete Buttigieg is smart, knowlegable and have raised money to stay afloat in the race.
If being gay is still the problem in America, is sad and unacceptable.
36
I was an Amy fan until this last debate. Neither she nor Pete is going to be president. They behave like an antagonizing little brother and an annoyed older sister. I'm tired of watching them bicker.
8
It's clear that Klobuchar does not have the poise or the temperament to be president. Her behavior during this debate combined with the historical allegations of mistreatment of her staff is enough for most sentient people. We don't need another person who can't keep their composure or an individual who is so reactionary. I'm not a Buttigieg supporter, but, sheesh! After this, I'd take my chances with Buttigieg any day.
44
Buttigieg is a Harvard grad, an Oxford grad, has worked for the largest and leading management consultancy in the world, has also served in our military, and has executive experience as mayor of South Bend. He is not my favorite candidate by far but it's clear that he brings a differentiated and formidable background that is not just based on gender.
Meanwhile, Klobuchar (and Biden) do a really good job of connecting with people emotionally, but let's face it - neither possesses the raw intelligence that - at least I - would like to see in the White House.
I think Klobuchar asked what a lot of us were thinking - is she dumb? It's a fair question for someone who wants to be the POTUS.
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@David She went to Yale and the University of Chicago Law School. Her academic and professional accomplishments are on par with Mr. Buttigieg (or greater). She may very well have character flaws that make her hard to like, but she is more than competent intellectually to be POTUS.
Instead of bickering with each-other, they should be hammering Sanders about where his thirty trillion is coming from.
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@PeteH
Where is the $50 trillion going to come from if we keep the existing for-profit private "healthcare" system in this country?
Ultimately, in either case, the money comes from American citizens......and I'd rather pay $30 trillion over the next decade rather than $50 trillion.
Anyone opting for the $50 trillion plan needs their head examined.
2
two things.
Amy seems to be the one making hyperbolic attacks and accusations
Women are 51% of our population. if the males are being mysogynistic why don't that 51% come out for Amy and Elizabeth?
could it be women don't like them either?
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No.
I voted for Klobuchar for MN senator with genuine enthusiasm. She has served the people Minnesota very well. I was quite proud of her behavior during the Kavanaugh hearings. However, something about running for President seems to have brought out a snarky streak that is quite unappealing. It is of course easier to see from a distance, but both she and Mayor Pete need to be reminded: Neither she nor Buttigieg are the problem---Donald Trump is the problem. I rarely agree with Thomas Friedman, but his post today is absolutely on target. I sincerely hope that all of the Democratic candidates can begin to show a common goal of working together to permanently remove lying, cheating, racist, proudly ignorant Donald Trump and his entire grifter family from public life.
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Do your reporters really not have anything better to do than to focus on gossipy conflict? As the horse race goes the two candidates aren’t close in the polls, and the article provides neither insight into why nor deeper research into issues and demographics. Maybe I should turn on CNN and watch their Harry and Megan special—equally irrelevant but with better costumes!
1
Klobuchar has started showing TV ads- and they are probably the worst ads for a candidate I have ever seen- completely vapid and empty. She needs to show SUBSTANCE to gain any ground....
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Amy Klobuchar does not have the character or temperament to be president of the United States.
Her awful treatment of her staff is well documented. She's reduced many of them to tears, thrown phones, screamed and berated and belittled them.
Anyone who treats her staff that way is exceptionally dysfunctional and shouldn't be anywhere near the Oval Office.
Don't give me that sexist double standard non sense.
Nobody is saying this about Elizabeth Warren or Kamala Harris.
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I like both candidates and think both are fine people. But both are flawed candidates. Do their flaws render them dead on arrival? Not in my book. To me (a 76-year old) Biden and Sanders' ages are greater handicaps. I think that of he remaining candidates Warren and Klobuchar are the better choices. While I don't know this for a fact I suspect that many voters will not vote for a gay man and that might doom Buttigieg in 2020 but could mean a bright future for him as our society matures. To me Klobuchar's major weakness is the legislative record she touts. Each of those 100 pieces of legislation has spawned 100 disappointments for those on the wrong side of the bill's actions. In that regard my support really should favor Warren. My wife supports her and my wife is usually right about everything.
Maybe she should run.
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@mce1 At the last debate, Klobuchar freaked out and responded to Buttigieg like all of this was a personal attack versus a professional challenge during--gasp--a debate/media circus performance. I didn't dislike her before, still don't, and I may even prefer her to Buttigieg. But wow. She couldn't stop herself from snapping at him with a personal insult that had no relevance in that forum--remind you of anyone?
11
I’ve been an Amy Klobuchar fan for a long time. I think if I had to pick any of the existing candidates to just put into the White House right now it would be Amy.
But let’s be honest: Life is not fair and neither life nor a Presidential election is a meritocracy. It would be great if it were, but it’s not and this debate about Pete not being qualified enough and/or Amy being more qualified and/or that she’s had a higher standard applied to her because she’s a woman isn’t serving her well nor is it helping the Dems’ chances overall. Amy needs to keep emphasizing her positive qualities, experience and vision and put the unfairness/victim card away. It’s not a good look and, IMO, makes her candidacy smaller rather than bigger.
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@Jamie Glad that you can sift through the noise and find some qualities that make her a viable candidate. I find her to be a whiner and self classifying as a victim. Both qualities make me hope she goes home (quietly) real soon.
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@Jamie Really? Was such a great county DA when she refused a young man who couldn't make bail the right to attend his mother's funeral? When that young man came to trial, she used jai house snitches and bribes to make her case. On review, her case was thrown out of court. She is outright nasty, and when she has been exposed for her nastiness, she plays the poor, picked upon woman card. Want to tell me why she should not be held to the same standard as a man for doing something that is unacceptable for either gender? Or why, because, she does sit on theThe Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration and she doesn't know the name of the president of Mexico? Which country are we most concerned about - according to the impeached president - when it comes to security? And when she is called out on this - not once, but twice, she pitches one. And then she plays the "woman" card again. She is not fit to be president, and don't be surprise if she is primaried.
By the way, Pete oversaw 1000 people as mayor, He had to devise and fight for his budget, which is larger than any budget she has had control of. He supervised more people, and she has never had to raise her own operating budget. She is the one with no executive experience. None. At. All. And that has nothing to do with being a woman.
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@Jamie
She also has flown under the radar about her past. She supports fracking and mining interests in Minnesota. She railroaded a Black youth into a life sentence. She has the highest staff turnover rate in the senate, due to her ongoing sbusive behavior.
Where are the articles and questions about that?
5