Democratic presidential candidate Mayor Pete Buttigieg has released his first campaign ad with a substantial $210,000 media buy in Iowa where the first votes of the 2020 election cycle will be cast.
The ad, titled ‘The Only Way,’ focuses on Buttigieg’s experience as a mayor and military veteran.
“As a veteran and as a mayor, I’ve seen what we can achieve when we have each other’s backs,” begins the 30-second spot. “But in today’s divided America, we’re at each other’s throats.”
“Our rivers and oceans are rising. Health care costs are soaring, and our kids are learning active shooter drills before they learn to read,” Buttigieg says speaking to the camera. “To meet these challenges and to defeat this president, we need real solutions, not more polarization.”
“Acting together, to conquer these challenges, is the only way forward,” he says in closing.
The Buttigieg campaign has also recently opened 20 field offices in Iowa and hired an additional 30 staffers in the Hawkeye state, according to Politico.
The spending comes after Buttigieg raised more than any other Democratic White House candidate last quarter raking in over $24 million.
The aggressive moves will enthuse Mayor Pete’s supporters and will hopefully move him up in the polls.
Despite positive debate reviews and much interest in the mainstream media, the 37-year-old is consistently ranked 5th in most national polling.
RealClearPolitics currently shows Buttigieg averaging about 4.4%.
In an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last night, the South Bend Mayor shared how he plans to make inroads among the Democratic candidates as the field narrows:
“Now that it’s starting to winnow down, people are starting to look for the contrasts. And it will be important for me to convey how I’m different from the others. I like the others, I appreciate the others, I admire the others but I’m not like the others. It’s not just a matter of style, it’s also a matter of approach.”
“It’s why I’m not making the same promises that some of the candidates to my left are. I share the goals and believe that we can do it in a way that will bring Americans together.”
