Article snippet: After a meteoric rise in the 2020 race, signs are emerging that MORE’s momentum may be stalling out. The South Bend, Ind., mayor’s polling numbers have remained relatively flat in recent weeks, hovering between 4 and 7 percent in most surveys. And he has started facing tougher questions during public appearances, including about his struggle to build a following among black voters and his handling of a police-involved shooting in his hometown. To be sure, Buttigieg still finds himself in a strong position. He closed out the second quarter of the year with a nearly $25 million fundraising haul — the most of any candidate — and more than $22.6 million in the bank. Still, his waning momentum in the polls points to a new challenge for the 37-year-old mayor: transitioning out of his role as an ascendant newcomer and into that of an established top-tier contender. “He has a very dedicated and passionate floor and a core of voters and donors and supporters,” Jon Reinish, a Democratic strategist, said. “But there is no question that he has work to do.” “He has to make a stronger case and show that he can go outside of this space to a bigger and more diverse audience,” Reinish added. Indeed, Buttigieg’s rise in the presidential race has been driven by white, college-educated voters drawn to his aspirational vision and youth. But at the same time, he has struggled to build a significant following among black voters, with many polls showing his support near zero. A Monmouth... Link to the full article to read more