MANCHESTER, N.H. — Sen. Amy Klobuchar Amy KlobucharEPA delivers win for ethanol industry angered by waivers to refiners It's time for newspapers to stop endorsing presidential candidates Biden marks anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, knocks Trump and McConnell MORE (D-Minn.) commended Sen. Mitt Romney Willard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyGOP-led panel to hear from former official who said Burisma was not a factor in US policy Joe Biden's dangerous view of 'normalcy' The electoral reality that the media ignores MORE (R-Utah) for voting to convict President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE before turning to slam Democratic presidential rival Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBogeymen of the far left deserve a place in any Biden administration Overnight Defense: Woodward book causes new firestorm | Book says Trump lashed out at generals, told Woodward about secret weapons system | US withdrawing thousands of troops from Iraq A socially and environmentally just way to fight climate change MORE for saying the impeachment trial was exhausting to watch.

"We had a moment these past few weeks, mayor, and that moment was these impeachment hearings," Klobuchar began at the Democratic presidential debate on Friday night hosted by ABC News.

"There was a lot of courage that you saw from only a few people. There was courage from Doug Jones, our friend of Alabama who took that tough vote. There was courage from Mitt Romney, who took a very, very difficult vote," she said to applause.

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"But what you said, Pete, when you were campaigning through Iowa as three of us were jurors in that impeachment hearing, you said that it was exhausting to watch and that you wanted to turn the channel and watch cartoons," she said. "It is easy to go after Washington because that's a popular thing to do."

"It is much harder to lead and much harder take those difficult positions because I think this going after every single thing that people do because it's popular to say, it makes you look like a cool newcomer. I just don't think that's what people want right now," she added.

Amy Klobuchar praises Mitt Romney's "courage" for impeachment vote, then turns to Pete Buttigieg: "You said it was exhausting to watch and that you wanted to turn the channel and watch cartoons." https://t.co/Rhy9aOaDTU #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/Tr7lk4Cyay — ABC News (@ABC) February 8, 2020

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Klobuchar was referring to comments made by Buttigieg last month when the former South Bend, Ind., mayor remarked about the hearings that Klobuchar and fellow Sens. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersMcConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters Why Democrats must confront extreme left wing incitement to violence MORE (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenWarren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Don't expect a government check anytime soon No new taxes for the ultra rich — fix bad tax policy instead MORE (D-Mass.) attended.

"If you are watching the news right now, if you're watching what I'm watching right now, and feeling exhausted — I know I am. I live and breathe politics, and I feel exhausted," Buttigieg said last month.

The impeachment saga ended on Capitol Hill on Wednesday after the Republican majority in the Senate voted to acquit President Trump. However, Romney broke with his party and garnered praise from Democrats by voting to convict Trump on the first impeachment article, abuse of power.