NH Primary Source: In interview, Buttigieg urges NH, including his followers, to support Biden Second-place leadoff primary finisher says former VP shares his ‘commitment to decency,’ ‘belief in empathy’ Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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be more dramatic. Whatever differences there might be among Democrats, there is a colossal cast between most Democrats. Frank, the most Americans and what is going on right now in this White House? And this was already a light for death matter that much more so in the context of the panned Out was not just about what we're against. It's about what we're for. You know, my campaign was about building a sense of belonging, grounded in empathy and making sure that our policy choices lift up every American. I certainly had a different way of talking about it and sometimes a different way of thinking about Vice President Biden. But these were different princes in approach toward what is very much the same goal. One of the reasons why I was enthusiastic and deciding to support divided this. I see in him that same commitment to decency, that same belief and empathy that is what we need not just to get through this crisis, but to move this country road and from the perspective of a younger generation, the longer you planning to be here, the more you have at stake in making truth. We actually do something about climate shapes that we do something about economic justice that we do something about gun violence and whatever our minor differences in approach might be the choice on the ballot. This election is about whether to do anything at all. We've got to make the right choice. Okay, Now, uh, speaking pro clearly, although now that with the primaries over, we may not be quite as important. But we still are Spring State here, and ah, well sought after four electoral votes, which in some cases has been determinative. Joe Biden left the state. You remember very well early that day. I'm primary day. Uh, this is how to double the challenge, too, to focus here, will you becoming here. Perhaps you were so obviously very popular. You're close second. Uh, will you be coming here on his behalf? And how does he get New Hampshire on on his side? I certainly hope so. You know, uh, one of my favorite things during the course of the primary campaign was making mental notes about places I hope to come back to later. I'd love an opportunity to get back there. All of us were getting used to the new reality of campaigning on the most basic parts of it. Campaigning. It's physically gathering together and for a candidate or a serving, get like me hitting the road. We don't get to do that right now, so we've got to reach out your ways. But, ah, sooner or later, we'll get that chance. I'm very much looking forward to getting back there. Look, a Granite State is really the tip of the spear for a lot of the issues that are at stake in this election from making sure we do something. Get everybody health care, too, supporting rural communities and economies and economic transition to dealing with the need for clean and safe water and air on getting ahead of climate issues. Thes are as important in the general's. They were in primary on duh. It's what I'll be asking voters after to consider going into November, right? Of course, as I say coming back here, I understand. Given the situation, you know, who knows that that may that may be difficult, although hopefully by November we will be able to see you in person, um, over 19 use. There's somebody myriad of issues. But speaking of the election are you concerned about? About the effect on the election on voting? Many states are moving to go by mail only, including even ours spiritually and me. Uh, how do you see the effect of this on voting? Just in general? Leave it to you. You know, everything that is important to us is endangered by this pandemic. That's true about our lives in our house. That's true about our economy. Of course, it's also true about our democracy. And it's one of the reasons why we need to pay be paying very close attention to the decisions that are being made about election in our country. These decisions are are made and run at the county and state welts. And so it's gonna be incumbent on each state to find ways to make sure that everybody could vote. I think vote by mail is very important. Part of that. It's not all there is to it, though, and making sure that we have it backed up by five options. If they're safe ways to do in person voting and making sure that everybody is secure and knowing that eligible voters are registered kept on rolls, especially seeing what's going on a lot of purchase that I believe were aimed a voter suppression that's more important than ever, especially if it's an environment where most of us were. All of us understand. Given the current situation, what's your reaction on what is sort of? I haven't seen the vice president's reaction yet to Trump's, um, cutting of funding to the W H o What? What are your thoughts about it and what's the with What's the team's thoughts about it? I think any child could tell you that this is not a great time to be undercutting the organization in charge of dealing with pandemics around the world. Now I think it speaks to a deeper issue to one of the reasons why we need a respected states personal like Joe Biden in the Oval Office is leading in the world. When it's this is there concerns or issues that we have in international institutions like the world, the World Health Organization? Uh, this is a mirror we should be leading, not withdrawing on. Part of leading is contributing funds. Part of leading is setting the tone and humbling to set the agenda. Look, you can either resent the rest of the world or you can leave the rest of the world, but you can't do both. And one of the things we're seeing in the collapse of international cooperation and the collapse of respect for the United States on Trump presidency is it puts us all in danger. This virus doesn't have a nationality. It doesn't care what country it's in. It doesn't stop for national borders. And so we need to collaborate. Coordinate More than ever, the World Health Organization is part of that American leadership is part of That is why we need a president like divine who's gonna restore American leadership before other countries are around the world. Give up on us for good. Are you among those who believe that his approach, Trump's approach early on was dangerous and may have actually cost lives? Well, yeah, I remember. Even during the period I was still on the campaign trail links, the president went to downplay this. It's mid April right now. I remember him saying that we're suggesting that in April it would, uh, miraculously go away on some. But right now, I think we've got to focus on the future decisions that are being made right now and decisions that are about to be made, not just about, ah, public health, where I think the absolute imperative is to make sure that we massively expand our ability to do testing. I'll tell you why this is so important is that the more capacity we have for testing, the less we're going to depend on lockdowns and distancing that are so destructive. So whether it's that or whether it's the economic package, we know there's gonna be a face for moving through Congress. We need good leadership. And if it's not coming from the president, the good news is we're seeing a lot of mayors, governors around the country stepping up. But let's make sure we do have the kind of president. And of course, our chance to do that comes by way of the election. This year. It's front finally, as someone who was a local elected official in a leader on a local level, and, uh, President says that he has total quote total authority over the Rio openings. On that, the governors will agree with him. The governors will will do what he says, although there may be some adjustments. Um, what's your thoughts about about that approach about that time. Do you believe it's actually the constitutional? Well, let me say this. Whether you are ah, liberal or conservative Democrat or Republican. The idea of an American president claiming to have absolute power is horrifying to all of us. And, you know, certainly thinking about the powerful ethic of independence that I saw the answer state that goes by the motto, Live free or die. There you have a president ever claiming to have a total authority shocks the conscience. Now, uh, maybe that's just bluster. But it matters to the words of the American president matter. And it's just one more exam of why we need better leadership. Look, there's you know, scholars and lawyers and constitutional experts on both sides of the aisle swiftly spoke up to state that that was nonsense. The bigger issue is that shows the mentality of somebody who doesn't understand that leadership works, especially in a country like ours and the federalist system. At a moment like this, there needs to be more to presidential leadership than just saying, You've got a lot of power. You need to actually go out there and make good on. Understood. Um, finally just trying to camp, paying any advice for for the vice president. I mean, he's been campaigning for many, many years, but you've been very successful at it yourself campaigning In a situation like this, it must be very challenger. I know it's challenging, just covering politics in general. Most of it seems to really love around around this pandemic, understandably, but they're all the other issues that you debated and the others debated have certainly not gone away. How do you cut through this to get those messages out? You know, there are moments in American history where politics changes. There was a time when it was considered in polite for a presidential candidate to go out campaign. And if you want to see them speak that have to go somewhere near their home. Look, in the days of William McKinley, we're living through one of those moments. We didn't ask for it, but we're in it. We're campaigning is gonna have to evolve once again, just as it did for the front porch campaign to the whistle stop train tour, too. What we're seeing now is everything from zoom videoconferences to podcast to Ah, traditional television engaged on all of those being jumbled together in new ways. The thing that hasn't changed is what's at stake. This is our chance to make sure we get the leadership we need to bring America together into move America forward on. So the different forms of media that we get that message across through that's gonna change from the, uh, the old fashion in person speech, at least for the time being. But the message, I think, won't change. And neither will the importance of everybody who is eligible getting out there voting and making their voices heard any final thoughts. You want a conveyor folks up here, your your fans over here. First of all, big thank you to everybody in New Hampshire who is part of this effort. It was such a joy getting to know the communities and families, the advocates and the elected leaders across the state of New Hampshire. And I really am looking forward just a soon as these conditions clear to having an excuse to get back over there and say so. Great. Well, I thank you so much. It's great to talk to you. Same here and has to be reunited. Yeah, we'll see you soon. Hopefully they saved my best to your husband. Take care. Thank you, he said.

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