Buttigieg rallies supporters with strong message during campaign stop in Raleigh
The 2020 presidential race is certainly picking up steam in North Carolina. Saturday night, Democrat Pete Buttigieg was right in the thick of it all.
Saturday was the last day to cast your ballot in early voting ahead of Super Tuesday. Hours after Joe Biden visited Raleigh for a campaign stop, Democrat Pete Buttigieg did the same, speaking at Broughton High School. We're told more than 3,500 people filled the school's gym.
Buttigieg's message of unity within the country and Democratic Party lasted about 15 minutes. After that, he took questions from the audience before heading on to his next destination.
One of the people in the audience asked Buttigieg about making healthcare more affordable for all Americans. Buttigieg said he intends to create an affordable plan with better co-pays and deductibles that don’t take a huge chunk from people’s income. With North Carolina being a state participating in Super Tuesday, he stressed the importance of campaigning here to get support.
He wasted no time taking jabs at President Donald Trump, too.
"We need a president with steady temperament, not to mention a belief in science and evidence," Buttigieg said.
Buttigieg criticized the president for his behavior in the White House and his policies. He argued President’s Trump has caused division these past four years. Buttigieg said he wants to work to unify the Democratic Party and our country as a whole.
"We cannot afford four more years of Donald Trump," Buttigieg said. "Policies have us at each other's throats instead of each other's backs."
Supporter Michelle Hilmey said Buttigieg is the candidate who is able to tackle issues that matter most to her.
"Healthcare for me and education are two really big things that I think just need to be addressed and changed," said Hilmey, who is from Apex. "I see too much talk in other directions. I think his focus is pushing more in that direction."
Voters like Jameson Donnell remain undecided.
"I just want a guy that knows how to run the country," said Donnell, a Charlotte resident. "Experience doesn't necessarily have to play a role but it does speak value."
It was Buttigieg's third stop on the campaign trail on Saturday. He also made stops in Nashville, Tenn., and Columbia, S.C.
