. . . Less than a year ago, he was the totally unknown 37-year-old gay mayor of South Bend, Ind.
Now, he’s the candidate on the move. He’s only fourth in national polls, far behind the three old warhorses – Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren – all of whom are no less than two generations older than him.. . What gives Mr. Buttigieg distinction in the field is that he is a religious Democrat. At a time when the country’s moral standards are being shredded, he comes across as a young man of moral stature and authority well capable of leading an ethical renaissance. . .

Mr. Buttigieg has the three leading candidates looking over their shoulders. He is a moderate from the Rust Belt. He isn’t saddled with the yesterday’s-man foibles of Mr. Biden or with a radical medicare-for-all policy such as Mr. Sanders and Ms. Warren. Given that tens of millions of Americans would have to relinquish their private health-insurance plans, it’s a high-risk issue. National medicare, the critics say, equals national nightmare.

It was expected that Mr. Buttigieg’s being gay might be a handicap. But so far, there are few signs. If the United States could elect a black president, it could elect a gay one, too.
Mr. Buttigieg’s military background (he served in Afghanistan) gives him credibility on the right. Intellectually, he’s second to none – a Rhodes scholar with a working knowledge of no less than eight languages.
. . .
It’s presumptuous for him to think of becoming president at such a tender age; he would be the youngest ever. But the more people see of him, his composure, his broad perspective, his balance of mind, the more they’re convinced he is exceptional. That’s why he’s gone from an unknown with an unwieldy name to the candidate with the Big Mo. He could have waited to go for the top job until he has more seasoning, but because Mr. Trump is in power, the timing is right. In many ways, he is the perfect counter to this President.