Nashua, NH - Hundreds came out to support former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg at his Get Out the Vote rally at the Elm Street Middle School on Sunday. They were chilly, and for many folks it wasn't only because of the weather. They are turned off by the radical, leftist diatribe from the likes of Sens. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and that's why they're flocking to Buttigieg's "moderation."
"You can sit down with him for hours and listen to him," said Frank from Nashua. "Whereas I get the chills with Elizabeth and Bernie, even though their ideas are okay."
One of those senators' ideas, Medicare for All, goes too far for some of the more moderate voters in line, considering it will kick millions of people off of their current health insurance plans and it comes with a hefty price tag. Some studies estimate $20-50 trillion over 10 years. And that's an issue because for most of the folks we talked to, health care was the No. 1 thing that will be on their minds when they go to vote on Tuesday.
Kevin from Nashua said he likes "the more moderate ideas" proposed by Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) than Sanders and Warren. Mayor Pete has proposed a "Medicare for All Who Want It" plan, but at Friday night's debate in Manchester, Klobuchar accused the mayor of flip flopping on the issue, referencing a tweet he published in 2018 where he noted he was "in favor" of Medicare for All.
On Sunday, however, Buttigieg continued to distance himself from the single-payer policy. He admitted that his own plan is pricey, but it's more affordable than that of his opponents.
"One of my competitors has an 'I don't know price tag,'" Buttigieg said.
Sanders, a few voters emphasized, is just "way too left," and they agree with the argument that his health care for all plan just doesn't have a path forward.
"I think that Bernie and Elizabeth, their hearts are in the right place and I know what they're trying to fight for, but I think they're too far to the left," said Darcy Rock-Ohara, a teacher at Elm Street Middle School. "And I think the country is so polarized right now, if we have a candidate that is way to the left and way to the right, it's just going to get worse."
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