DETROIT—A campaign aide who was not authorized to speak to the media has told Reuters that former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg will suspend his campaign for president on Sunday night.
“Pete is heading back to South Bend and will give a speech tonight suspending his campaign,” said the anonymous campaign aide.
Buttigieg’s official campaign has not confirmed the media reports, but has put out a message on Twitter announcing that its Dallas rally has been “postponed.”
“We apologize for any inconvenience, and will follow up with our supporters registered to attend with further details,” it added, without confirming or denying the media leaks from numerous aides.
UPDATE: Our Sunday evening rally in Dallas has been postponed. We apologize for any inconvenience, and will follow up with our supporters registered to attend with further details.
— Team Pete HQ (@PeteForAmerica) March 1, 2020
It also confirmed that Buttigieg was speaking at South Bend at 8:30 p.m. ET.
ANNOUNCEMENT: @PeteButtigieg will be delivering remarks in South Bend at 8:30 p.m. ET. Watch live below. https://t.co/PfsXU8azsq
— Team Pete HQ (@PeteForAmerica) March 2, 2020
Buttigieg, a 38-year-old Afghanistan war veteran, who would be the first openly gay U.S. president, has sought to unite Democrats, independents, and moderate Republican voters, arguing that his status as a Washington outsider could rebuild the majority needed to defeat Republican President Donald Trump in November’s election.
He entered the race as a relative unknown on the national stage, with two terms as mayor of a small Midwestern city as the chief item on his political resume. His campaign invested heavily in rural and Trump-leaning counties in Iowa in the hope that a win in its first Democratic nominating contest would give him a boost in states to come.
He did just that, pulling out a narrow victory in Iowa over Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and surprising many in the Democratic establishment with a close second-place finish in New Hampshire.
Buttigieg’s withdrawal could help Biden, whose much-needed victory in South Carolina on Saturday gave him more momentum heading into the 14-state Super Tuesday nominating contests this week.
President Donald Trump said he believed that was the case, taking to Twitter to respond to the unconfirmed media reports that Buttigieg is suspending his presidential campaign.
“All of his SuperTuesday votes will go to Sleepy Joe Biden,” Trump said. “This is the REAL beginning of the Dems taking Bernie out of play.”
Pete Buttigieg is OUT. All of his SuperTuesday votes will go to Sleepy Joe Biden. Great timing. This is the REAL beginning of the Dems taking Bernie out of play – NO NOMINATION, AGAIN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 1, 2020
The Associated Press reported that Buttigieg’s departure from the race reflected a growing pressuring among more moderate Democrats to consolidate in an effort to blunt the rise of Sanders, who Buttigeig said was too liberal to be elected.
The Associated Press and NTD staff contributed to this report.
