Democratic Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg speaks to a large crowd at Decorah High School

As South Bend, Indiana mayor and presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg took the stage Saturday night in Decorah, he noted, "a bunch of folks have been inviting me here for a long time."  Saturday night they got their chance to hear Buttigieg give his pitch for becoming the next President.

Buttigieg made a pitch for having people come together, saying much of the public is exhausted from fighting with one another.  He told the audience "most of us" want "Medicare for all who want it"--Buttigieg's term for allowing, but not requiring, people to buy into Medicare coverage.  He also said most of us are ready to do something about guns and most of us are ready for action on climate change.

Any action on these issues would require an American majority which wanted to get things done, said Buttigieg, adding, "you can't love America if you hate half the people in it."

"It's time for a presidency which calls out what is the best in us," he said as his prepared remarks came to an end.

Questions from audience members then ranged across quite a few issues, including Buttigieg's proposal for a national service program and his proposal for an 80-billion dollar program for high-speed rural Internet access.

Buttigieg's campaign stop in Decorah was part of a campaign swing which also included stops in Waverly, Charles City and Mason City on Sunday.  Saturday night's appearance in Decorah drew an estimated 1,000 people, according to a school district staffer.