South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg expanded his campaign staffs in two key early states over the weekend, five months out from the first voting in a nominating contest.
Buttigieg’s campaign fundraising haul — with more than $21 million in cash-on-hand through the last quarter — has enabled him to survive among several better known candidates, including former Vice President Joe Biden, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Ahead of the Feb. 11, 2020 New Hampshire Democratic primary, the Buttigieg campaign’s Granite State team hired an additional 14 organizers and two regional organizing directors, which brings the campaign’s total paid staff there to 56 people.
Buttigieg is expected to be at the official opening of four new campaign offices this upcoming weekend when he travels to Manchester, New Hampshire to address the state party convention with his fellow Democratic presidential candidates.
The Indiana Democrat, reportedly, also has 100 full-time staffers in the state of Iowa. That’s more paid staffers on his Iowa team than the top polling candidates: former Vice President Joe Biden, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Vermont Sen. Bernie, Sanders, and California Sen. Kamala Harris.
According to the Associated Press, the Buttigieg camp will open up 20 more offices in the Hawkeye State within the month of September.
The campaign, which began with TV anchors and radio hosts discussing how to pronounce the candidate’s last name, has grown from 30 full-time paid staffers to over 300 presently.
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