Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBillionaire who donated to Trump in 2016 donates to Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November Buttigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice MORE pushed back on questions over whether his campaign is stalling, saying he intends to win during this primary cycle and is not thinking about positioning himself for the next election.

NBC's Chuck Todd Charles (Chuck) David ToddMurkowski: Supreme Court nominee should not be taken up before election Republican senator says plans to confirm justice before election 'completely consistent with the precedent' Sunday shows - Trump team defends coronavirus response MORE asked the South Bend, Ind., mayor on "Meet the Press" Sunday how he responds to supporters asking "okay, when are you going to take off like a rocket ship again."

"A lot of people are starting to ask, is this a campaign to prepare to run for president another time," Todd asked.

"It is not, I am in it to win," Buttigeig responded.

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"[My campaign] exceeded every expectation since we started with four people in a room in South Bend and a campaign list smaller than most congressional campaigns."

Now is the point in the campaign "where you see how much this is a distance run," Buttigieg said.

"So much is decided in the last few days," he said, adding that the next "unglamorous" six months or so is his focus.

Buttigieg entered the campaign as a relatively unknown mayor of a small town and has risen to the top five candidates in a crowded field.

A RealClearPolitics average of polling has Buttigieg at 5 percent, behind the top-tier candidates including former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenFormer Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick Bloomberg rolls out M ad buy to boost Biden in Florida MORE, Sens. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenOvernight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds On The Money: Half of states deplete funds for Trump's 0 unemployment expansion | EU appealing ruling in Apple tax case | House Democrats include more aid for airlines in coronavirus package Warren, Khanna request IG investigation into Pentagon's use of coronavirus funds MORE (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSirota reacts to report of harassment, doxing by Harris supporters Republicans not immune to the malady that hobbled Democrats The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Republicans lawmakers rebuke Trump on election MORE (I-Vt.) and Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisTexas Democratic official urges Biden to visit state: 'I thought he had his own plane' The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden on Trump: 'He'll leave' l GOP laywers brush off Trump's election remarks l Obama's endorsements A game theorist's advice to President Trump on filling the Supreme Court seat MORE (D-Calif.).

As the field narrows, with three candidates dropping out this month, Buttigieg has stayed relatively stagnant in his position behind the four top candidates.