(CNN) South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg's recent rise in the 2020 presidential race has featured a steady stream of attacks against Vice President Mike Pence, the former Indiana governor who had a working relationship with the mayor during his time as the head of the state.

Pence himself has not responded to the pointed attacks, but on Tuesday, second lady Karen Pence and the vice president's spokesperson pushed back on Buttigieg's critcisms.

"They've always had a great relationship," Karen Pence said on Fox News host Brian Kilmeade's radio show on Tuesday. "It's funny because I don't think the vice president does have a problem with him, but I think it's helping Pete to get some notoriety by saying that about the vice president."

The comment comes after Alyssa Farah, Pence's spokeswoman, tweeted that Pence -- as governor -- responded to the mayor's coming out in 2015 by saying he holds Buttigieg "in the highest personal regard. I see him as a dedicated public servant and a patriot."

Karen Pence responded to that on Tuesday.

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