With just three days of campaigning before the New Hampshire primary, Joe Biden's campaign released the first negative ad of the campaign season targeting former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

The ad, titled, "Pete's record," contrasts the accomplishments of Biden as vice president and Buttigieg as South Bend's mayor. The point of the ad, of course, is that Buttigieg is woefully unprepared to be president.

The ad says:

"Barack Obama called Joe Biden "The best vice president America's ever had." But Pete Buttigieg doesn't think much of the vice president's record. Let's compare: When President Obama called on him, Joe Biden helped lead the passage of the Affordable Care Act — which gave health care to 20 million people. And when park-goers called on Pete Buttigieg, he installed decorative lights under bridges, giving citizens of South Bend colorfully illuminated rivers.



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 nuclear deal. And under threat of disappearing pets, Buttigieg negotiated lighter licensing regulations on pet chip scanners.



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. ... Pete Buttigieg revitalized the sidewalks of downtown South Bend by laying down decorative brick.





The ad goes on to note Biden's efforts to increase gun control and curb violence against women, contrasting it with Buttigieg's decision to fire South Bend's black police chief and fire chief.

"We're electing a president. What you've done matters," the ad concludes.

In response, Chris Meagher, Buttigieg's national press secretary, said the ad speaks volumes about Biden's vulnerability in the race.



"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," Meagher said. "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."

The ad was released the same day that a new CNN poll showed Biden trailing both Buttigieg (by 10 points) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (by 17 points) in New Hampshire ahead of next week's primary.