Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro took aim at South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE (D) over his record on racial issues on Sunday.
At a press gaggle at the Warren County Democratic Party’s fall dinner, the former Obama administration official said that Buttigieg had a “bad track record with African Americans on the issues.”
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“Just look at his track record as mayor,” Castro added.
Castro’s campaign confirmed the former Housing and Urban Development secretary’s remarks when The Hill asked for comment, and pointed to remarks Castro made Saturday at the NAACP forum at Drake University in Des Moines in response to Buttigieg’s assertion that the Democratic primary was essentially a two-person race between himself and Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.).
“Anyone who thinks this is a two-person race doesn’t know anything about the Black and Latino communities,” Castro said at the forum.
As @JulianCastro said, “Anyone who thinks this is a two-person race doesn’t know anything about the Black and Latino communities.” pic.twitter.com/FbSsmYCSNo
— Sawyer Hackett (@SawyerHackett) November 2, 2019
Buttigieg responded to Castro when prompted by CNN’s Abby Phillip, telling her: “That’s false. Look, our city has had a lot of challenges, but the black voters that know me best have returned me to office and supported me more the second time than the first.”
“And I would be happy to walk him around South Bend and introduce him to folks if he’d like to learn how we’ve tackled these really tough issues,” he added.
Pete Buttigieg responded to Castro’s charges he has a bad track record with African Americans, telling CNN’s @abbydphillip, “That’s false…I would be happy to walk him around South Bend and introduce him to folks if he’d like to learn how we tackled these really tough issues.” https://t.co/qom0kPXvmL pic.twitter.com/VtOYxIEU52
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The South Bend mayor has failed to gain traction among Democratic voters of color, particularly black voters, and has faced criticism for his response to a police shooting of an unarmed black man in the city.
A Washington Post-ABC News poll released Sunday showed Buttigieg making gains but still trailing former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE, Warren and Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.).
Updated at 12:46 a.m.