South Bend is a liberal-leaning city, that’s true. But not 80% worth, by any means. This district just re-elected do-nothing ® Jackie Warshoski (or whatever her name is), and an ancient and calcified ® white guy won the county rep spot where I am, against woman who retired from the SBPD, and who is active in all sorts of civic organizations. At least half the Senate race yard signs around here were NOT for the (D) incumbent, Joe Donnelly, who lost.
And yet, Pete remains popular. People came from downstate to see be present at his announcement on Sunday. My neighbor arrived two hours early and was about 150 people away from the front of the line when they closed the indoor venue. A large crowd (1500, I think?) stayed outside IN THE (cold, cold) RAIN. (It snowed later in the afternoon.)
Of course Pete will have to win over 2016 ® voters who are not from around here. But to dismiss his second term win (by a landslide) because South Bend LEANS left is underestimating his appeal.