He's causing me to rethink all of my prior assumptions heading into 2020, and I'm starting to think that he may be the one.

I'm still leaning towards Kamala, but I'm more intrigued and impressed by Buttigieg than I have been with any other political candidate since Obama.

go lower and lower as new names and faces appear on the scene, America is ready for the 21st century and beyond.

I like Buttigieg's chances to win Iowa or finish a strong second.

We already saw that he had some momentum here, but DU is not representative. This Iowa poll suggests that that surge is not limited to places like DU.

Both here and in Iowa, I would also note that the much ballyhooed Beto announcement and his fundraising achievement might not be matched with as much grassroots support as suspected.

How long will it be before reality kicks in such as the press finding something small regarding his record or the other candidates come after him?

I was on Twitter and there was a tiff over something he said about Hillary Clinton's "I'm With Her" slogan and how it was "wrong". Her supporters jumped all over him over that statement.

but I admit I am very impressed with him in his appearances. Iowa was the 3rd state which permitted marriage equality (its supreme court ruled in favor of it in 2009) so that should be a good electorate for him in terms of not having voters judge him. I will say I still wonder to what extent being openly gay will hurt him both in the primaries (especially the southern super tuesday ones) and in the general election. The first openly gay governor elected was just last year, the first Senator was in 2012. In contrast, the first elected (post Reconstruction) black governor was in 1989. The first elected black Senator (post reconstruction) was 1966. And of course Obama won in 2008. That is 21 and 42 years between those elections. I have to wonder if this country is ready yet. I don't think we will need 21 years but I am not sure 8 is enough.