Pete Buttigieg ends bid for White House, leaves some Texas supporters in tears
Nicole Ward woke up Sunday morning more excited than she had been in a long time.
She was going to attend a rally in Dallas for Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg — the first candidate she has believed in for a long time.
A volunteer for his campaign, she showed up at the Main Street Garden Park only to learn that her candidate of choice had ended his bid for the White House and canceled the Texas rally.
“I’m devastated,” the Grand Prairie woman said while wiping away tears. “I woke up this morning with such high hopes.”
She felt believed that Buttigieg, a former South Bend, Ind., mayor, was a lifeline, someone who could turn around the negativity she’s felt for the past three years under President Donald Trump’s leadership.
It was a “gut punch” learning that he was out of the race one day after Saturday’s South Carolina primary, which former Vice President Joe Biden won.
Although she pledged to vote for the Democratic presidential nominee, Ward said she believes that “our chance for change” is gone.
Buttigieg, 38, drew national attention after winning the Iowa caucuses, narrowly edging out U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who has claimed much attention — and the largest share of delegates — since then.
Buttigieg had the third-most delegates pledged to him.
He canceled the Dallas rally less than two hours before it was to begin, instead heading to South Bend to make the formal announcement.
This comes than 48 hours before Super Tuesday, when Texans and voters in more than a dozen other states will head to the polls to weigh in on the presidential primary.
Already, more than 2 million Texans — including more than 138,000 Tarrant voters — have cast early ballots in person and by mail.
Recent polls showed Biden and Sanders neck-and-neck in Texas. One poll put Buttigieg in fifth place, behind Biden, Sanders, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Connie Stevens, a Lantana woman, was among those who showed up early for Buttigieg’s Dallas rally only to learn he was out of the race.
“I think he should have waited until after Tuesday,” she said.
When asked why she supported Buttigieg, she smiled.
“I wanted somebody young ... (who wasn’t) in politics for 100 years.”
Robert Liebendorfer, a 27-year-old Buttigieg volunteer in Dallas, said he was sad about the news.
But he encouraged the crowd leaving where the rally was to be held to stay positive.
“Pete brought a great positive message,” he said. “I’m looking forward to what he’s doing next.”
Bill Owen, a campaign volunteer from Irving, agreed.
“I’m very disappointed. All of us really believed in the cause,” he said. “But I understand there are decisions that have to be made.
“I have no doubt he’s going on to bigger and better things.”
Polls in Texas are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
This story was originally published March 1, 2020 at 7:23 PM with the headline "Pete Buttigieg ends bid for White House, leaves some Texas supporters in tears."
