Pete Buttigieg bizarrely tells supporters 'this is your night' after getting half as many votes as Sanders
Pete Buttigieg tweeted a bizarre celebration of the results in Nevada - complete with typo - telling supporters: 'Your are the answer. This is your night'.
His comments came as he shared internal campaign data which showed he only received half as many votes in the state's caucuses as winner Bernie Sanders. His campaign said he was on track to finish second \ with 21 per cent of the vote as Sanders secured 42 per cent of the state's support.
"To those who questioned whether a Midwestern mayor could gather a national movement around a new kind of politics—your [sic] are the answer. And to everyone who believes in what we’re building—this is your night. This is your campaign," Mr Buttigieg wrote in a Twitter thread that also sought out donations from supporters as the campaign seeks to meet a $13 million fundraising deadline by 3 March, which is Super Tuesday.
The messages continued: "It belongs to the most talented, and energetic, and kind, team of organizers and volunteers, and to the nearly 1 million grassroots supporters who have chipped in—and yes, I hope you’ll join them and help us raise $13 million by Super Tuesday."
To those who questioned whether a Midwestern mayor could gather a national movement around a new kind of politics—your are the answer. And to everyone who believes in what we’re building—this is your night. This is your campaign.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg)
Mr Buttigieg's results in Nevada may provide a lifeline to the campaign as it proceeds, and bolsters his claims moving forward that he is the best choice for moderate voters who might view Mr Sanders as too extreme to take on Donald Trump this November.
But, after close results in New Hampshire and Iowa, the distant second showing — assuming his internal campaign information holds — would undeniably illustrate difficulties for the Buttigieg campaign, as the race heads towards more diverse states with non-white populations seen as less hospitable to the former mayor.
Buttigieg came under fire for a similar speech in Iowa, declaring victory before the final results were in.
As chaos reigned across the state's caucus system, Buttigieg took to the stage and said 'an improbable hope became an undeniable reality'.
He was mimicked as 'mayor cheat' on Twitter but ultimately did finish neck and neck with Sanders. Iowa is still in the process of recounting some of its results.
