The end of Pete Buttigieg’s term as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, on Dec. 31 comes at a fortuitous time for him in the Democratic presidential race, freeing him from mayoral obligations a full month before the first state nominating contests begin while his competitors tend to Washington obligations.

Buttigieg, 37, will become a full-time candidate as most of his primary competitors are due to be pulled away from Iowa and New Hampshire so they can sit in the Senate observing impeachment proceedings against President Trump. Joe Biden, 77, is the only other top-tier candidate able to campaign unrestricted, but he has been sticking to what one Democrat described as an “old man schedule.”