The VPetestakes
Suddenly, Pete Buttigieg is everywhere. Plus: 5 things I'm watching in Indiana politics this week.
Suddenly, Pete Buttigieg is everywhere.
The transportation secretary is blitzing the airwaves with his Midwest-nice takedowns of Donald Trump and JD Vance. Members of Congress are talking him up. Buttigieg’s digital alumni network is circulating clips of appearances and touting his complementary skills to Kamala Harris. He did a canvassing kickoff for Harris in Traverse City, Michigan, on Saturday morning. And an ally in his home state of Indiana — saying they were acting independently of Buttigieg— has compiled a dossier evaluating Harris’ options and concluding: “Simply put, the vibes are high right now.”
The Pete for Veep trial balloon is approaching mid-flight. His allies view it as a clear signal that Buttigieg wants the job.
“He’s open to it,” a person familiar with his thinking said.
WHAT I’M WATCHING THIS WEEK
Buttigieg is appearing on Fox News Sunday later this morning. He’ll be in Central Indiana at a battery factory on Friday, capping off a weeklong swing in the Upper Midwest on an official-side trip.
Indiana Democrats head to French Lick for their annual confab, the Indiana Democratic Editorial Association. The family reunion-like event, which I’ve written about extensively in the past, is an opportunity for candidates to connect with party leaders and show their level of organization and enthusiasm. Who has it? Who doesn’t?
Buttigieg started his political journey 14 years ago at French Lick as he put out Meet Pete signs for his state treasurer bid.
Former Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio will keynote the annual Lee H. Hamilton Dinner at French Lick Saturday. He knows JD Vance better than many. What will he say of his former Senate opponent?
What is the down ballot impact of Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket?
IMPORTANTVILLE SOUNDBITE
“He’s probably the most vetted candidate of the bunch, just because of his first presidential campaign, and also being in the Cabinet.”
—Mike Schmuhl, Buttigieg’s former campaign manager, the chair of the Indiana Democratic Party and a member of the DNC’s executive committee.
IMPORTANTVILLE READS
"French Lick is not what you hoped it was..." by me from the archives
The event is a notoriously boozy affair. One would be forgiven if they thought the springs in “French Lick Springs” were not filled with mineral water, but brown liquor, which flows just as freely on the hotel’s scenic porch after a certain hour. In the old days, the story goes, well-lubricated governors, congressmen, political candidates, and staffers would ride a luggage conveyor belt in the early hours of the morning. On Friday and Saturday night, beers and liquor fill iced bathtubs in hospitality suites, and candidates and officeholders hop from room to room.
“The Interview: Pete Buttigieg Thinks Trump Fever Could Break,” by Lulu Garcia-Navarro in The New York Times:
I assume at this point, you know Kamala Harris very well. Do you have a specific story about working with her or something about her as a person that you think voters should know? I think people do know this, but she is not just impressive, she’s smart and funny. The best chances I had to see this were when I was very involved in debate prep. I was asked to effectively play Mike Pence, which is a very strange psychological thing for me to do, but I’m so glad I got to do it because I got to see her in action. So often you hear, Oh, this person’s really funny and loose, but it doesn’t come through on TV. But I actually think what’s interesting, not just TV, but the internet has picked up on the fact that she has this great sense of humor. And it’s also revealing that the G.O.P. has tried to attack her for it, and that’s fallen flat. I mean, even just this idea of sending around images of her laughing, as if her joy is something that looks bad. When actually what looks bad is to be the doom-and-death march Republican Party against a Democratic Party that on one hand is very cleareyed about the enormous stakes of this election, and on the other hand is visibly enjoying ourselves right now.
“Harris calls on Zeta Phi Beta members to mobilize voters ahead of November election,” by Whitney Downard in Indiana Capital Chronicle
Vice President Kamala Harris — and likely presidential nominee for the Democratic party — appealed to over 6,000 sorority sisters assembled in Indianapolis Wednesday, urging them to help rally Americans before the November election.
“We know when we organize, mountains move. When we mobilize, nations change. And when we vote, we make history,” Harris said. “So let us continue to fight with optimism, with faith and with hope. Because when we fight, we win.”
Harris framed her candidacy as one that is future oriented, as opposed to Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump — whom she never named. She did specifically reference Project 2025, a policy platform proposed by the ultraconservative Heritage Foundation. Trump has denied an association with the initiative — which CNN reports 140 former Trump administration officials contributed to — that calls for eliminating free preschooling and slashing poverty alleviation programs.
