Pete Buttigieg Wants To Battle!

South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg is considering a run for the president.

The Rust Belt went to Donald J. Trump. Now Democrats from the Rust Belt are hoping that voters realize that his impact hasn't really changed the narrative. In states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Iowa, you have not seen much improvement.

Matter of fact, Michigan and Ohio were dealt blows. GM is closing three manufacturing plants.

Now it's time to call upon Mayor Pete. The mayor of the Midwestern town announced he wasn't running for a third term. He said that he's quietly talking to friends and family about his prospects.

South Bend is a town with 84,000 residents. The town is known for University of Norte Dame Fighting Irish and recreational vehicles and trailers.

Pete Buttigieg is another contender willing to take on this Goliath known as Trump.

While I believe Trump has a 70% chance of winning reelection, the Democrats are hoping he slips up. These next two years of Trump's term could be interesting.

Buttigieg could be the youngest active member running for President of the United States.

Buttigieg was born in South Bend, Indiana, to Joseph Buttigieg and Jennifer Ann (née Montgomery). He is of Maltese and Scottish descent. He is a Rhodes scholar and military veteran having serve the U.S. war in Afghanistan.

Buttigieg graduated from St. Joseph High School in 2000, where he was president and valedictorian of his senior class. In his senior year at St. Joseph's High School, he was honored by Caroline Kennedy and other members of President Kennedy's family during a May 22, 2000, ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Library for his prize-winning essay for the JFK Profiles in Courage Essay Contest.

Buttigieg;s winning essay centered on the integrity and political courage demonstrated by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, one of his nation's only Independent members of Congress.

He was also selected as one of two Indiana delegates to the United States Senate Youth Program.

Buttigieg is married to his husband Chasten Glezman. His announcement to run for president could be a first. If he does run and succeed in winning the nomination, he could be first openly gay Democratic nominee running for the President of The United States.

Do you believe Peter Buttigieg could a serious contender for President of the United States?

Code:

Yes. I believe Pete Buttigieg could be a new face to the Democratic Party. He could be a milestone in achievement for the underclass. He could be the first LGBTQ president.

No. I believe Pete Buttigieg won't inspire many Democrats. Given the toxic environment, Republicans will find ways to undermine a progressive candidate because of his sexual orientation.

I don't have any comments on Pete Buttgieg. I don't know enough about him or his policies.

An article on the Washington Post's website, headlined "South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg moves toward Democratic presidential primary run,"  said his decision to not seek another mayoral term could "presage his attempt to vault from local to presidential politics.

The Post story said a run for the White House would offer Buttigieg "a chance to shape the debate over the party's direction and, potentially, expand his future options beyond his Republican-dominated state."

CNN posted a story on its website Monday morning about Buttigieg's decision "clearing the way for a potential 2020 presidential bid." And the Washington Times said the decision cleared "the decks for a possible bid for the Democratic presidential nomination."

For his part, Buttigieg would not comment on a presidential run. But he is scheduled to head to Des Moines later this week to speak at the Progress Iowa annual holiday party, the latest in a series of political speeches he has given across the country. He has a political action committee to help other progressive candidates. He is working with seasoned Democratic operatives. And his autobiography, "Shortest Way Home: One Mayor's Challenge and a Model for America's Future," is scheduled to be released in February, followed by a book tour.

No one doubts the mayor of a small town who has never run a sustained campaign for national office would face steep odds in a presidential race. But can Buttigieg attract attention, or make a dent in the debate, with a positive message about working to revitalize a struggling Midwest city?

Some key Democratic leaders think so, including Barack Obama's former political guru, David Axelrod. He told The Tribune in an interview last year, "As we look to the new generation of leaders, he's a natural person to be at the top of that list. The things he's done with his life, the things he's done in South Bend, his ability to reach people across the political divide. All those things are enormous assets."

And the Republican Party is at least paying attention — and sharpening its knives. In a statement released Monday, the regional spokesman for the Republican National Committee took some early shots at Buttigieg.

"Given all of the failures and gaffes as Mayor of South Bend and the lack of excitement around his candidacy, Buttigieg seems like the perfect candidate for a flailing Democratic party that doesn't stand a chance at defeating President Trump in 2020," the statement said.