Now that Pete Buttigieg’s head is appears to be pretty solidily in the presidential game, he’s got to work really hard to separate himself from the rest of the Democratic pack. And what better way to do that than taking cheap, baseless swipes at Mike Pence?

Pete Buttigieg on his sexuality: "That's the thing I wish the Mike Pences of the world would understand: That if you have a problem with who I am, your quarrel is not with me. Your quarrel, sir, is with my creator."https://t.co/e2Qwhha57k — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) April 8, 2019

More from NBC News:

On the trail, Buttigieg has emphasized how he and his husband are similar, not different, from heterosexual couples across the country, hoping to defuse an issue that evangelicals and other opponents of same-sex marriage could raise if he becomes the nominee. Taking direct swipes at Vice President Mike Pence, he said his marriage last year to schoolteacher Chasten Buttigieg had made him a better man, “and yes, Mr. Vice President, it has moved me closer to God. “That’s the thing I wish the Mike Pences of the world would understand: That if you have a problem with who I am, your quarrel is not with me,” Buttigieg said. “Your quarrel, sir, is with my creator.” Pence, who has opposed gay rights policies such as legalizing same-sex marriage, was governor of Indiana when Buttigieg came out as gay after returning from serving in Afghanistan — at the same time as he was seeking re-election as South Bend’s mayor.

Pence has given no indication whatsoever that he has “a problem” with Pete Buttigieg’s being gay.

Pete Buttigieg does not have to explain or apologize to the likes of Mike Pence for anything he does in his life. — Shomeo (@SassBaller) April 8, 2019

When did Mike Pence ever ask for an explanation or apology from Buttigieg?

What does Mike Pence have to do with anything? It seems a lot of people care a lot more about what Pence thinks than Pence does about what they do. https://t.co/GaWIrkiiwj — Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) April 8, 2019

Lefties are funny that way … they claim they seek tolerance, but when they can’t prove conservative intolerance, they feel compelled to invent grievances for the sake of preserving a false narrative.

Did he cite a relevant Pence quote? — Jay Tee Ell Oh Ell (@jtLOL) April 8, 2019

He can’t.

Has Mike Pence ever expressed an issue with who Mayor Pete is? I get that he’s the fun target for this but they had a great working relationship when Pence was in Indiana and Mayor Pete was the same person then. Just not running for President. https://t.co/6izkIgCAFq — Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) April 8, 2019

Flashback:

Up to their old antics. pic.twitter.com/PQPkiojrYA — Nic Rowan (@NicXTempore) April 8, 2019

Why was Pete Buttigieg willfully hanging out with someone who allegedly hates him for being gay?

There's going to be a LOT more of this as people continue to point out that Mayor Pete's attacks on Pence are purely opportunistic. https://t.co/NORafvo8NB — Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) April 8, 2019

Pete Buttigieg can sling mud with the best of them. Meanwhile, it’s Mike Pence whose hands are clean.

The media can carry Buttigieg's long-distance mind-reading as fact, or there's also this actual thing VP Pence said while governor. https://t.co/nIg5GszsBu — Bryan S. Myrick (@BryanMyrick) April 8, 2019

If I saw a restaurant owner refuse to serve a gay couple, I wouldn't eat there anymore. http://t.co/QCAPBfnJzL — Governor Mike Pence (@GovPenceIN) March 30, 2015

So.