Buttigieg responded quicker to Senate-bid rumors than to the Southwest crisis

Sen. Stabenow announced Thursday around 9:15 a.m. that she would not seek re-election. The news prompted rumors that Buttigieg, who recently moved to Michigan, would run to occupy Stabenow’s seat.

Buttigieg responded to the rumors in a statement sent out to reporters before 11:00 a.m. …

While Southwest canceled 2,909 flights, accounting for 71% of those scheduled, on Dec. 26, Buttigieg only issued a statement shortly after midnight on Dec. 27.

“I’m tracking closely & will have more to say about this tomorrow,” Buttigieg said in a tweet, responding to a post from the U.S. Department of Transportation saying they were “concerned” by the cancelations.