Washington (CNN) South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg said on Saturday that there were so many Democrats in the race, they "might as well carpool."

Buttigieg was speaking at an education-focused meet-and-greet on the back porch of a home in Des Moines, Iowa, as he and much of the nearly two dozen Democratic presidential candidates swarmed the state , whose caucuses top the 2020 primary calendar.

Buttigieg offered a unifying tone at the event, saying he did not view the massive field "as having opponents so much as competitors."

"You would be surprised how often we are in dialogue with each other," Buttigieg said. "And as these cattle calls pick up we are going to get to know each other better and better."

He argued that it was important for candidates to ensure their supporters that eventually they would all want to rally around the party's nominee to challenge President Donald Trump next year.

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