California Democrats are beginning to gather around Pete Buttigieg, leaving Kamala Harris in an increasingly tenuous position.
Democrat strategist Garry South has watched the Buttigieg wave break on California shores. “I think the amazing thing is that nobody is ceding California to Kamala Harris … no one is abandoning California to the native daughter — which tells you something,’’ he said. “Why would he come out here and spend four days if he thought she had California locked up?”
Even Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti seems torn by the developments, although his commentary would suggest that he sees the writing on the wall. “I love Kamala Harris, she’s a dear friend,’’ he hedged, but said Buttigieg “is one of my closest mayor friends.”
“Mayor Pete is the flavor of the month, he’s really excited people, particularly in the LGBT community,’’ Los Angeles attorney Jessica Levinson said, though she admitted “[Harris] actually has more specific policies than he does.”
Melissa Rivers, star of Fashion Police and The Apprentice, agrees, though she is herself a staunch supporter of former Vice President Joe Biden. “[Buttigieg] does interest me, because he’s so multifaceted,” she said.
“It’s going to be very hard. If you don’t like that he’s gay, you’ll like that he’s a military guy,’’ she continued. “If you don’t like that he’s a military guy, you’re going to like that he’s a mayor. It backs people into a corner because there’s nothing to attack him on.’’
Far-left surge: Mamdani-backed candidates oust Dem establishment incumbents
Paroled felon charged in deadly fire at New York homeless hotel that killed 6
DOJ charges 10 Southern California defendants in largest federal healthcare fraud crackdown in US history
Top Dem beats progressive who likened himself to Bernie Sanders in closely watched race
‘Party of Zohran’: Mamdani emerges as Democratic kingmaker after socialist allies sweep NYC primaries
Biden appointee crushes comeback bid by billionaire wine mogul David Trone
Mamdani-backed socialist with history of anti-American rhetoric wins vicious Dem primary race
GOP voters pick Trump-backed nominee in battle to flip crucial House seat
Meet the Republican challengers vying to unseat New York’s congressional Democrats
Investigators revisit Florida serial killer case as search resumes for possible additional victims
Iranian World Cup Fans Defy Regime and FIFA with Banned Displays of Resistance
Biden-appointed judge ripped after blocking ICE arrests at immigration courts
Video: Facing 20 Years, $250k Fine, Nazi-Obsessed, Anti-ICE Woman Pleads Guilty to Punching Officer in Face
Florida man allegedly kidnapped teen girl and hid her inside a clothes dryer before she called 911
Coffee Shop in NYC in Full Retreat After Hateful Attack on Jewish Congressman Backfires in Every Way Possible
Susie Tompkins Buell, a major Democrat donor and friend of Hillary Clinton, previously came out strong in support of Harris’s candidacy. Now she is wavering. She has announced that she will be fundraising for Buttigieg. “He adds a rich, deep, thoughtful and resonant voice to the conversation and it’s evident that the country is responding to him,” she wrote in an April e-mail to friends and allies. “He is a special guy and formidable candidate.”
“We have a lot of people who are very candidate curious,’’ Mayor Garcetti concluded. “Kamala has a ton of love up and down the state, but people might say, ‘That doesn’t mean I’m not going to shop around … Maybe I’ll keep her as my senator and go with somebody else as president.’”
Story cited here.
