Article snippet: MORE can win the Democratic nomination for president, top party strategists say, as long as he can capitalize on his growing media attention and early grass-roots efforts in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary. Buttigieg has become an early primary sensation, coming out of nowhere to be seen as a real contender for the Democratic presidential nomination. Rivals are taking him seriously, and even a second-place finish in Iowa — where he held events Tuesday — could give the South Bend, Ind., mayor a significant boost, say Democratic strategists closely following the jockeying among candidates. “If he has a strong showing in one or both of those states, it's a game-changer,” Lynda Tran, a founding partner at 270 Strategies, said of the contests in Iowa and New Hampshire. Another strategist backed that sentiment, saying Buttigieg “needs to dig in” in Iowa and New Hampshire “and allow his ever-growing grass-roots effort to send the loudest message.” “If he does well in those early states, even if he comes in second, it’ll cause a domino effect with the other states,” the strategist said. Once a dark horse candidate with a surname few could pronounce, Buttigieg has soared in the polls in recent weeks, bypassing, at least in some polls, previously better-known political figures and candidates such as Sens. MORE (N.J.). That success is critical in a crowded Democratic race with 19 candidates, and former Vice President MORE expected to join them. More and more ... Link to the full article to read more