Former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenCast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response Biden tells CNN town hall that he has benefited from white privilege MORE on Saturday tore into 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 in a new digital ad suggesting the former South Bend, Ind., mayor does not have sufficient experience to be president.

Biden underscored his ties to former President Obama in the roughly minute-and-a-half ad and highlighted issues he tackled as vice president, comparing his experience to Buttigieg’s efforts handling local problems as mayor.

“Barack Obama Barack Hussein ObamaThe Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Don't expect a government check anytime soon Trump appointees stymie recommendations to boost minority voting: report Obama's first presidential memoir, 'A Promised Land,' set for November release MORE called Joe Biden ‘the best vice president America’s ever had.’ But Pete Buttigieg doesn’t think much of the vice president’s record,” a narrator says.

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The video goes on to compare key moments of the Obama administration with actions Buttigieg took overseeing South Bend, insinuating that the former mayor doesn't have enough experience to take the reins of the federal government.

Former Mayor Pete doesn’t think very highly of the Obama-Biden record. Let’s compare. pic.twitter.com/132TB7MHaq — Joe Biden (Text Join to 30330) (@JoeBiden) February 8, 2020





“Both Vice President Biden and former Mayor Buttigieg have taken on tough fights. Under threat of a nuclear Iran, Joe Biden helped to negotiate the Iran deal, and under the threat of disappearing pets, Buttigieg negotiated lighter licensing regulations on pet chip scanners,” the narrator says.

“Both Vice President Biden and former Mayor Pete have helped shape our economy. Joe Biden helped save the auto industry, which revitalized the economy of the Midwest, and led the passage and the implementation of the Recovery Act, saving our economy from a depression,” she adds. “Pete Buttigieg revitalized the sidewalks of downtown South Bend by laying out decorative brick.”

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The blistering ad comes in the aftermath of Buttigieg’s surprise showing in Iowa, where he appeared neck and neck with Sen. 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.) for the top spot in the state’s caucuses. The former mayor has since surged in polling in New Hampshire ahead of Tuesday’s primary there, with Biden dropping to third or fourth place.

The attack ad indicates Biden’s campaign feels like it may have to fight back to blunt Buttigieg’s momentum coming out of Iowa and as the candidates compete heading into the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday.

A new CNN poll released Saturday indicated that Sanders and Buttigieg are leading among New Hampshire voters heading into the Granite State contest.

Buttigieg and Biden, two chief centrists in the race, are competing for similar sets of voters in the primary field, with some polls showing Buttigieg cutting directly into the former vice president’s support.

Buttigieg’s campaign fired back at the new ad Saturday, saying it indicates Biden is concerned about his current standing in the primary field.

“At this moment, the American people are crying out for something completely different from this classic Washington style of politics. While Washington politics trivializes what goes on in communities like South Bend, South Bend residents who now have better jobs, rising income, and new life in their city don't think their lives are a Washington politician's punchline,” Chris Meagher, Buttigieg's national press secretary, said in a statement.

“The Vice President’s decision to run this ad speaks more to where he currently stands in this race than it does about Pete’s perspective as a mayor and veteran,” Meagher added.