I think it’s his sexual preference. Also the way he handled the cop shootings in South Bend. He’s not popular in South Bend among blacks. It might be the cop shootings and also the fact that he’s white and the locals feel aggrieved that he somehow beat out his black opponents for the mayor job.
It doesn’t help him though that he’s a white male. That is not the party ID.
“He’s not popular in South Bend among blacks.”
And that word travels across the national grapevine at the speed of light.
To oppose a candidate because of his skin color is racist. To oppose a candidate because of his sex is sexist.