Pete Buttigieg Woos ‘Future Former Republicans’ in New Hampshire
- Ex-mayor tied for lead in New Hampshire by wooing independents
- Buttigieg squeezed between progressives and front-runner Biden
Pete Buttigieg speaks to a crowd in Keene, New Hampshire, on Jan. 2.
Photographer: Erin Clark for The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Pete Buttigieg likes to invite “future former Republicans” and independent voters into the fold, and the fiercely independent people of New Hampshire seem to be open to that offer.
In a state where residents cherish their “Live Free or Die” motto, 42% of voters are not affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican Party, and they range from progressive to conservative.
“They’re looking for a candidate that is selfless and authentic,” Judith Kaufman, the chairwoman of the Sullivan County Democratic Committee, said about independent voters.
So as Buttigieg crisscrossed New Hampshire during a four-day swing that ended this week, he tried to woo voters outside of the Democratic Party. Making inroads with independents may be a matter of survival nationally for the 37-year-old political neophyte, who has struggled to appeal to nonwhite voters and is banking on strong performances in Iowa and New Hampshire.