Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death Bogeymen 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 MORE on Sunday defended his fundraising practices as the same as those used by former President Obama in the wake of criticism from Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersKenosha will be a good bellwether in 2020 Biden's fiscal program: What is the likely market impact? McConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security MORE (I-Vt.), a fellow 2020 White House hopeful.

"I am following the same fundraising practices that President Obama did and that our leaders have," Buttigieg said on CNN's "state of the Union," adding that he's looking to draw in all available support.

The former South Bend, Ind. mayor said the funds raised will allow him to win the nomination and build a foundation to take on President Trump Donald John TrumpObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE in November.

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"I don't define my campaign by whose support we reject," Buttigieg said.

He also noted that his campaign is funded by more than 2 million contributions that he said average under $40, and highlighted a coalition that he said was built from "the ground up."

"I'm not a billionaire, I haven't been in politics for years and decades. I don't have the advantages of having been a senator," Buttigieg said.

The former mayor has held big dollar fundraisers, a method of fundraising that has been rejected by Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenBiden's fiscal program: What is the likely market impact? Warren, 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 MORE (D-Mass.), the two most progressive Democrats in the field.