I think it's actually quite smart. He's planting the idea that DT looks down on his followers.

Not evidence as such but based on 2020 when they fell behind Biden, it may be that (1) they don't think America is ready (2) they do not "know" Buttigieg so they're choosing those perceived to have had electoral success such as senators and governors.

He has alluded to not loving that part of it--finding the speck in your opponent's eye. There may be more strategic moves open to him now that he has greater name recognition. Though, I am not yet convinced he will actually run.

That primary was crazy. What? About 20+? He had to carve a lane for himself, and so had to emphasize diffs rather than similarities. As I recall, his plan was actually not that diff from Bernie/Warren if you talk about what they supported in Congress rather than their aspirational rhetoric.

That's a misconception. He was very consistent on Medicare for All. Check his very first interviews.

I think that's mainly online. And people online may actually underestimate how much they themselves are influenced by efforts to brand someone a certain way by a rather determined, relatively small, but very loud, group.

Yes, he's at his best when he gets thrown curveballs.