Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticised Pete Buttigieg over a new campaign ad. (Getty)

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez accused Pete Buttigieg for “adopting Republican talking points” in a new campaign advert.

The star Democrat criticised Buttigieg over a new video in which he says that he wants to make “college affordable for everybody”.

In the clip, posted to Twitter, the South Bend mayor argues against making higher education “free even for the kids of millionaires”, because it would “turn off half the country”.

This is a GOP talking point used to dismantle public systems, & it’s sad to see a Dem candidate adopt it. Let’s talk about why Republicans are wrong on this. Just like rich kids can attend public school, they should be able to attend tuition-free public college. Here’s why. https://t.co/pWprP0qrhG — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 29, 2019

Ocasio-Cortez called this “a GOP talking point used to dismantle public systems”.

“It’s sad to see a Dem candidate adopt it,” she continued.

“Just like rich kids can attend public school, they should be able to attend tuition-free public college.”

The lawmaker went on to give a five-point breakdown of “why Republicans are wrong on this”, citing inclusion and socioeconomic integration.

1. Universal public systems are designed to benefit EVERYBODY! Everyone contributes & everyone enjoys. We don’t ban the rich from public schools, firefighters, or libraries bc they are public goods. 2. Universal systems that benefit everyone are stronger bc everyone’s invested! — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 29, 2019

3. When you start carving people out & adding asterisks to who can benefit from goods that should be available to all, cracks in the system develop. 4. Many children of the elite want to go to private, Ivyesque schools anyway, which aren’t covered by tuition-free public college! — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 29, 2019

5. Lastly, and I can’t believe we have to remind people of this, but it’s GOOD to have classrooms (from pre-k through college!) to be socioeconomically integrated. Having students from different incomes & backgrounds in the same classroom is good for society & economic mobility. — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 29, 2019

Student debt has become a major issue in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Student loans are second only to mortgages in terms of consumer debt, with borrowers who graduated in 2018 owing an average of $28,565.

Though Buttigieg – who recently topped a poll of Iowa caucus-goers – doesn’t name either of his Democratic rivals directly in the ad, the reference is clear.

Sanders’ pledge to eliminate the entire $1.6 trillion in student debt owed by 45 million US students has become a central part of his campaign.

Warren has also vowed to cancel the student debt of three-quarters of borrowers under a tiered forgiveness programme, capped at households with income over $25,000.

Both are proposing an end to tuition fees at two- and four-year public colleges.

Buttigieg’s plans are less expansive than his more liberal rivals. His main focus is on making two- and four-year programmes free for families earning $100,000 or less, with subsidies for those earning between $100,00 and $150,000.

He has also called for student debt forgiveness for people who enrolled in “low-quality, overwhelmingly for-profit programs”.