In a now-deleted tweet sent early Tuesday morning, Reuters included the wrong picture to go with the headline of the article it was promoting, causing quite the embarrassment for the news outlet.
The tweet included the caption, “In a Texas chicken joint, Biden and onetime rival Buttigieg unite to stop Sanders.” But the photo included in the tweet showed Biden sitting at a table with former presidential candidate Francis “Beto” O’Rourke, not Buttigieg. Cups from Whataburger, not “a Texas chicken joint,” can also be seen on the table.
(Screenshot via Twitchy)
As Twitchy reported, the tweet was mocked instantly.
The Reuters tweet linked to an article with the same title, which was, in fact, about South Bend Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden at “a Texas chicken joint” known as Chicken Scratch, located in Dallas.
Buttigieg suspended his campaign on March 1 even though he currently was in third place regarding delegates. Buttigieg walked away from the Iowa caucus with the most delegates, and until the South Carolina primary on February 29, sat in second place behind Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Buttigieg picked up delegates in the first three 2020 Democratic primary states, but his support cratered in South Carolina.
Biden ran away with the South Carolina primary, moving him from third place to a close second behind Sanders. The Vermont socialist currently has 60 pledged delegates to Biden’s 54 heading into Super Tuesday.
Buttigieg was not the only Democratic presidential candidate to drop out and endorse Biden. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) also suspended her campaign despite some decent showings in the early primary states and endorsed Biden. O’Rourke, who dropped out months ago, also endorsed Biden.
Biden also picked up endorsements from former Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).
“I hadn’t planned on endorsing anybody, but then I started getting worried that Bernie Sanders would become the nominee,” Boxer said, making it clear that the sudden wave of endorsements was a public effort on the part of Democrats to stop Sanders from becoming their eventual nominee.
CNN reported that Biden became tearful during Buttigieg’s endorsement in Dallas, comparing his former rival to his son Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015:
Despite the acrimony, it is common for candidates who once sparred in a primary to come together once one drops out.
That much was made clear Monday night when Biden told supporters that Buttigieg reminds him of his son, Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015 at the age of 46.
“I don’t think I’ve ever done this before, but (Buttigieg) reminds me of my son, Beau. I know that may not mean much to most people, but to me it’s the highest compliment I can give any man or woman,” Biden said.
“Like Beau, he has a backbone like a ramrod. I really mean this. I think about it,” Biden said.
Biden said in Dallas that he was surprised by Buttigieg’s endorsement, saying that they had talked after the South Bend mayor suspended his campaign, but Biden didn’t ask for an endorsement and Buttigieg didn’t say he would be making one.