Unknown South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg's campaign is beginning to get stronger as they continue to roll on towards the debates. The campaign has made several additions to their team. They recently hired Hillary for America alum George Hornedo as the national delegate director. Mayor Pete also recruited Google engineer Ann Mei Chang, who serves as the chief innovation officer.

The team is also bolstering its communications team, by bringing on board people with lengthy resumes and years of experience. They also draw from experienced political operatives including Lis Smith.

The national press secretary will be Nina Smith. The campaign has also added two deputy national press secretaries and a media monitor. Some of the campaign's additions have turned some heads within the circles of Democratic operatives. Buttigieg also brought on board Democratic ad makers from AKPD Message, to serve as consultants. The ad makers previously worked on the Obama campaign.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg starting to develop a stronger campaign

While many counted out the mayor's campaign, it's already beginning to balloon into a serious campaign, thanks in part to a massive fundraising haul of $7 million, over the course of three months. The campaign recently took a break to strategize and layout campaign principles for the team.

A Politico poll found him in fourth place among the two dozen Democratic candidates running for president, putting him only behind Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren.

Buttigieg has drawn the attention of massive donors from Chicago, including those who funded the Obama campaign. Buttigieg acknowledges that his rise came fast, but that seeking the nomination is a marathon, not a sprint.

Now his campaign has shifted gears and entered the next phase. This includes growing their staff in key primary states. While Buttigieg has received some positive polling and media attention, he still needs an increased ground game in places like Iowa and New Hampshire.

Buttigieg struggling with the black vote

Buttigieg appeared in South Carolina at a rally but is still struggling to gain support from the black vote.

They are attempting to fix that by hiring staff in South Carolina. He's also receiving some support from black leadership including Reverend Al Sharpton. Sharpton approves of Buttigieg but did not offer up an official endorsement.

Buttigieg acknowledged that black Americans were skeptical of him. His work has failed to make a large impact in South Carolina. South Carolina State University hosted a rally for Buttigieg, which acknowledged that the state just doesn't trust him because he's seen as a wildcard. He faces a tough battle to win over black voters, like Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, and Bernie Sanders.
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