MANCHESTER, New Hampshire — Pete Buttigieg is banking on his performance in Iowa in more ways than one.
Buttigieg, 38, along with Bernie Sanders, 78, both claim they won the opening nominating contest even though the Iowa Democratic Party has delayed the final release of results over concerns regarding their accuracy.
But the uncertainty hasn’t prevented the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, from cashing in on his stronger-than-expected performance.
His campaign on Thursday reported it had raised $2.73 million since Monday, with almost 64,000 donors giving an average of $42.
“Bernie is still first in the polls in New Hampshire, and we’re being massively outraised by his campaign. In January alone, his campaign raised more than $25 million, and they’re being supported by NINE outside dark money groups, too,” his team wrote in an email to supporters.
With 97% of precincts reporting, Buttigieg leads Sanders in state delegate equivalents by less than a percentage point, 26.2% to 26.1%.
During an event Thursday that was billed as a “conversation with veterans,” the mayor reiterated how his showing in the kickoff caucus was an “extraordinary validation of this campaign’s vision.” But he insisted he wasn’t resting on his laurels.
“I’m also mindful and humbled by the fact that New Hampshire is New Hampshire. And New Hampshire is not the kind of place to let Iowa or anybody else tell you what to do,” Buttigieg said.
The New Hampshire primary will take place on Tuesday.
