Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg on Sunday hit front-runner and former Vice President Joe Biden for his role in backing the Iraq War, which the South Bend, Ind., mayor deemed the nation’s “worst foreign policy decision” of his lifetime.
“This is an example of why years in Washington is not always the same thing as judgment,” Buttigieg said in response to a question about how his foreign policy experience measured up to his 14 Democratic primary opponents during an appearance on “Iowa Press,” according to The Associated Press.
“He supported the worst foreign policy decision made by the United States in my lifetime, which was the decision to invade Iraq.”
Buttigieg issued a similar line of attack against Biden while speaking to reporters outside a campaign event in Knoxville, Iowa, according to the AP.
“It’s certainly a question that reflects on foreign policy judgment at a time like this when it’s so precarious for the people of the U.S.,” Buttigieg reportedly said. “Obviously, my judgment is different when it comes to a lot of these issues.”
A Biden spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.
Biden was a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee when the U.S. went to war. He is the only top-tier candidate in the race who voted for the war. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was a sitting House member at the time of the decision and vocally opposed the war.
Buttigieg, 37, has been criticized by some of his opponents that have questioned if the young mayor’s experience is enough to lead the country and take on President Trump next year. Buttigieg argues that what he lacks in years of Washington experience, he largely makes up for in years of service in the military.
Before entering politics, Buttigieg served as a Navy intelligence officer in Afghanistan.
The mayor has risen to the top of polls in Iowa, surging ahead of Biden, Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). The first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses take place Feb. 3.