How Pete Buttigieg climbed to the top (for now) in Iowa: He showed strength across Iowa counties

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg's strength across Iowa counties, including in rural and suburban areas, helped fuel his strong showing on caucus night.

The former South Bend, Indiana, mayor also gained raw support during the alignment process that's part of the Electoral College-style caucus system. More people jumped to his camp than to any other candidate during the final alignment.

Buttigieg has a tiny lead over U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont in the number of state delegate equivalents earned on caucus night, according to preliminary data released by the Iowa Democratic Party. Sanders received the most raw support during the alignment process.

The ground game: Buttigieg, a relative unknown in Iowa a year ago, built one of the most extensive campaign organizations in the state over several months. The campaign had more than 30 offices and about 170 staff members as of mid-January.

As he crisscrossed Iowa in the final weeks, Buttigieg's campaign organized training events for the precinct leaders who ultimately represented Buttigieg on caucus night.

The work translated into broad support from Iowans across the state. Buttigieg won 61 of Iowa’s 99 counties, performing well in both rural and suburban areas.

Picking up others' supporters: The Buttigieg campaign drew part of its strength by doing well in the alignment process.

In the Democratic caucus, a presidential candidate must have "viability" in individual precincts by reaching a threshold of support, generally 15%, that is different depending on turnout at individual locations.

Where did other candidates perform well in Iowa?

SANDERS: How Bernie Sanders (maybe) won the Iowa caucus race, and definitely won the most supporters

How Bernie Sanders (maybe) won the Iowa caucus race, and definitely won the most supporters WARREN: Elizabeth Warren wins only one county, but earns most popular support in Iowa's bluest and reddest counties

Elizabeth Warren wins only one county, but earns most popular support in Iowa's bluest and reddest counties BIDEN: Here's where Joe Biden won (pockets of rural Iowa) and lost (some of the most populous counties) on caucus night

Here's where Joe Biden won (pockets of rural Iowa) and lost (some of the most populous counties) on caucus night KLOBUCHAR: With a strategy to go everywhere in Iowa, here's where Amy Klobuchar won and lost in the caucuses

Buttigieg was viable in more locations than the other candidates. And when his competitors were not viable and therefore did not make it through to a second round of picks, their former supporters were more likely to back Buttigieg.

According to available data, Buttigieg lost support in just 14 counties or satellite caucus groupings during the final alignment process, fewer than for each of the other candidates. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts lost in 58; former Vice President Joe Biden lost in 48; U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota lost in 45; and Sanders lost in 35.

Support in flip counties, suburban areas: In the weeks leading up to caucus night, Buttigieg held about 50 public events in the state. Those events were held around the state, including in the 31 counties where Iowans voted for President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 before voting for President Donald Trump in 2016.

Buttigieg won 21 of those flip counties, while also doing well in counties with large suburban populations.

Buttigieg has argued that he is best positioned to take on Trump in a general election because he can appeal to Democrats, moderates and "future former Republicans."

But Buttigieg lacked support in some of the state's most diverse areas. In Waterloo, the Iowa city with the highest portion of African Americans at 16%, Buttigieg was viable in just a handful of precincts.

Barbara Rodriguez covers health care and politics for the Register. She can be reached by email at bcrodriguez@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8011. Follow her on Twitter @bcrodriguez.

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