Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips Takes on President Biden in 2024 Democratic Presidential Primaries
On Friday, Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota announced his bid to challenge President Joe Biden for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination. Phillips, a centrist former CEO and one of the wealthiest members of Congress, faced skepticism within his party, with one strategist calling his campaign “delusional.”
Despite the doubts, Phillips remained undeterred during his launch event in New Hampshire. He stressed that his primary challenge against Biden is rooted in pragmatism rather than opposition. “I am running for the Democratic nomination… not in opposition to our current president, who has my appreciation and gratitude, but rather with two core convictions,” Phillips stated.
Phillips’s decision to take on the popular president comes as polls show Biden with a significant lead among potential Democratic primary voters. However, Phillips cited Biden’s low approval rating and concerns about his age and declining performance as reasons for entering the race.
Democratic primary voters, according to Phillips, deserve a discussion about their best chance of winning the general election. He argued that Biden’s numbers “clearly moving in the wrong direction” made it questionable whether he could defeat former President Donald Trump in the next election.
The news of Phillips’ challenge to Biden received mixed reactions from Democrats. While some believe he could weaken Biden and potentially help elect Trump, others like political adviser James Carville argue that the conversation and debate about Biden’s vulnerabilities are necessary.
Phillips, a successful businessman, amassed a substantial fortune before entering politics. His background includes being the former CEO of his family’s distilling business and chairman of Talenti Gelato. In 2018, he managed to defeat a Republican incumbent and flip Minnesota’s Third Congressional District.
While Phillips has been a staunch supporter of Biden in Congress, he attempted to distance himself from the president on specific policy issues during his New Hampshire speech. Notably, he voiced concerns about high federal deficits, slow wage growth, inflation, low tax rates for corporations and the wealthy, gun violence, and healthcare costs.
Phillips’ bid faces challenges, including missed filing deadlines in some states and Biden’s strong standing in South Carolina. However, New Hampshire’s refusal to delay its vote means that Phillips will have a chance to secure some points before the race heats up.
