Hoosier Democrats aren’t at home yet with native born South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, choosing former Vice President Joe Biden and liberal Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders as their first and second picks in the state’s 2020 presidential primary.
A new survey from We Ask America said that Biden is backed by 33%, Sanders 23% and Buttigieg 20%.
The results, coming after weeks of media hype and favorable Time and Vanity Fair features about the mayor, are a disappointing showing for the candidate considered a favorite son, said the survey analysis.
“Despite being the home-state candidate, Mayor Pete Buttigieg has a long way to go if he hopes to win Indiana in the Democratic primary next year as former Vice President Joe Biden has a 10-point lead over second place U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders,” said Andrew Weissert of We Ask America.
“Despite very loud noise from the far left of the Democratic Party and Buttigieg’s popularity in the South Bend region, it seems that, for now, rank-and-file Indiana Democrats prefer a traditional party leader,” he added.
[Also read: Time features Pete Buttigieg and husband in ‘First Family’ cover]
The poll said that Buttigieg is not well known in his state. While his approval ratings around the state top his disapproval ratings, only in South Bend is his approval above 50%.
Other key findings from the We Ask America survey:
- Vice President Mike Pence sits comfortably with a net +6% favorability (47% favorable/41% unfavorable), while President Trump is slightly underwater in his job approval (46% approve/48% disapprove).
- Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb is in a good position for his upcoming reelection campaign.
- Hoosiers overwhelmingly support raising the legal age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21.
