Warren to hit rivals Biden, Buttigieg in new speech

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) will hit two of her top rivals in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary race during a speech in New Hampshire on Thursday, according to a copy of her prepared remarks.

Without naming them directly, she’ll call out former Vice President Joe Biden and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg. 

“Unlike some candidates for the Democratic nomination, I’m not counting on Republican politicians having an epiphany and suddenly supporting the kinds of tax increases on the rich or big business accountability they have opposed under Democratic presidents for a generation,” Warren plans to say.

That comment seemingly targets Biden, who has touted his ability to work across the aisle throughout the campaign. 

“Unlike some candidates for the Democratic nomination, I’m not betting my agenda on the naïve hope that if Democrats adopt Republican critiques of progressive policies or make vague calls for unity that somehow the wealthy and well-connected will stand down,” Warren also plans to say. 

The excerpts of the speech were first reported by The New York Times.

Warren also directs a line at Buttigieg by describing a candidate who “calls the people who raise a quarter million dollars for him his ‘National Investors Circle,’ and he offers them regular phone calls and special access. When a candidate brags about how beholden he feels to a group of wealthy investors, our democracy is in serious trouble.”

Buttigieg campaign spokesperson Lis Smith hit back, accusing Warren of fueling divisiveness in politics.

“Senator Warren’s idea of how to defeat Donald Trump is to tell people who don’t support her that they are unwelcome in the fight and that those who disagree with her belong in the other party,” Smith said in a statement. “We need to move beyond the politics and divisiveness that is tearing this country apart and holding us back. Pete will be a President who will heal our divides and rally Americans around big ideas to solve the problems that have festered in Washington for too long.”

Warren also contrasts herself with her rivals, doubling down on her message that she can deliver “real change” if elected to the highest office. 

“The key question isn’t big government versus small government — it’s who government works for,” she plans to say. “I’m running for President to take on a corrupt system and get our economy working for everyone.”

Warren does not call out fellow progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the speech. Both Sanders and Warren have sworn off high-dollar donations, running grassroots campaigns funded by small contributions from supporters. 

Warren, Biden, Buttigieg and Sanders have been leading the field in most polls. 

She’ll also call out former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (D) by name. She’s been publicly criticizing the billionaire and his self-funded campaign since he entered the race last month. 

“It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of Michael Bloomberg trying to buy the Democratic presidential nomination,” Warren will say, according to the excerpts, which were shared by her campaign.

Updated at 1:02 p.m.