I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something that rubs me the wrong way about Pete. I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something I adore about Pete.

Does that make sense? No. This reminds me of 2007. Way back when, there was a debate where Barack Obama essentially dismantled John Edwards on his Iraq war vote. You buffs might remember, Obama basically treated John like a car he needed parts from, took them, then took what was left of the car to the compactor. Edwards was done. Obama needed that Edwards block to consolidate with his base to go after Clinton. He had a job to do. Climb the rung one rival at a time.

Tonight Pete basically attempted to fend off a rival in Beto, and largely did so, while at the same time taking a climb up the ladder towards Elizabeth. He largely did so.

In fact, even though Amy Klobuchar was brilliant, it was Buttigieg who turned into a rhetorical buzzsaw and showed a no holds barred approach that stunned some and invigorated many.

Nevertheless, the two in tandem have vaulted into real contention. With all due respect to Laura Clawson, I submit she is wrong-this debate will herald a sea change.

I think largely, Biden is fading. He won’t be irrelevant, but as he weakens, the moderate Dem base, which is still the largest bloc, is going to gravitate somewhere. This is largely meaningless to Warren, or Sanders, who simply can not win this nomination as long as they both stay in. I think AOC will sap Warren’s surge with her endorsement, but only slightly, as again, we are still talking about 40 percent of the electorate in the primary.

Sanders and Warren can toggle over that 40 percent all they want, it isn’t enough to share. One of them has to consolidate. As the non contenders fade with the Castros and Bookers likely accepting reality and heading out nothing much will change either. They simply have very little vote, and have not distinguished themselves.

So where does that leave us? Beto is too Beta, and while I love him, he just can’t play the role of the heavy. This election calls for a heavy. Warren can do that, but unfortunately, has boxed herself in on MFA. In a primary heavy with union vote, you tell me how she gets over 2000 delegates. Same for Sanders.

Amy is top tier now. If you were shopping for policy, perhaps you love the aggressive progressivism. But if you are shopping to win, as strictly a business decision of deposing despots, you were looking for someone that would A. connect, and B. throw punches that can land. Biden? He throws punches. But not with great accuracy. There is a passive aggressive feel to him. I love Joe. I thank him..but let’s digress and talk about my wife, who I lovingly refer to as the Resentful Prognosticator.

Clear as day I remember when Barack dismantled poor Johnny E. and I asked her if she was impressed. “No. I don’t like how he treated Edwards. I won’t vote for him in the primary.” I said “I love it. He just ended his campaign. He can win this whole thing.” See what I was looking to get was a guy I could select to take it to the Republicans, turn this country blue, and get us some kind of Overton window shift/policy goodies. I wanted to win a Super Bowl so to speak. I wanted the best QB. I wanted the person who was going to step out onto the field, look his opponent in the, smile, and shove the ball down their throat.

Tonight, Pete was that person. He likely put away Beto, significantly weakened Warren, and most importantly, convinced me he could be the freakin’ President.

I still by polling, have Biden and Sanders ahead of Pete and Amy but I feel that changes after Iowa. But I asked my wife after the debate who is in your top four and who have you ruled out.

“Buttigieg. I don’t like how he treated Beto.” Thank you Hon. That was the answer I was looking for. “Why,” she asked me. “Didn’t he make you mad with how he came off?” “Of course, I said. Something about him rubs me the wrong way. But that is part of what I love about him.”

Does that make sense? No. But this isn’t about anything other than winning the freaking White House.

As for my wife? Well..about her dislike for Barack Obama-when the primary rolled around, she actually picked up the phone and called my Mom, who had at one point been solidly Hillary. What did she ask her? “We’re all gonna vote for Barack, right?”

By election day and ever since, my wife would have been willing to walk over hot glass for the man.

Will my wife end up voting for Pete? Well, that is her agency so it is not my place to say. I have not switched to Pete, and this is a very tense cycle for me. I am so emotionally invested in saving this country, sometimes I need to take a step back.

But Pete rubs me the wrong way, I tell you. There is just something about this guy..

I just love.