Speaking from a building with ties to America’s industrial past that’s now being re-purposed to house technology companies and other jobs of the future, the 37-year-old sold himself as unique in a field crowded with Washington lawmakers and longtime politicians. “It is time to walk away from the politics of the past, and toward something totally different,” Buttigieg told thousands gathered inside a former Studebaker car assembly plant in South Bend, Indiana. In a 36-minute speech, Buttigieg drew a strong contrast with President Donald Trump, suggesting there hasn’t been enough honest discussion about the need to transform the nation’s economy.
