Pete Buttigieg used an exchange with Bernie Sanders over the number of billionaires who have donated to his campaign to hit back at the Vermont senator — and then raise some money.
Sanders, hitting back at a number of attacks he was facing on Tuesday, said, “Americans don't want candidates to be running to billionaires for huge amounts of funding.” He specifically called out Buttigieg.
The former mayor said it was “untrue” and noted that his campaign has donations from more than 2,000 people “in Charleston alone.”
“Grassroots contributions are the life blood of my campaign,” Buttigieg said, then turned the answer into a pitch for his own campaign. “I shouldn't miss the opportunity, if you're watching right now and you support my campaign go to peteforamerica.com, and chip in,” he said. “And if you are watching right now, and you're a billionaire, I will raise your taxes. But if you'd like to defeat Donald Trump, please go to peteforamerica.com and donate legal maximum of $2,800.”
Sanders was seen laughing at the pitch.