Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota has halted his longshot 2024 Democratic presidential campaign. "I'm going to suspend my campaign and I will be, right now, endorsing President Biden because the choices are so clear," he told WCCO's "The Chad Hartman Show" in Minnesota.
"The alternative, Donald Trump, is a very dangerous, dangerous man," he said. "I would simply ask and invite and encourage Haley supporters, Trump supporters, uncommitted supporters to unify behind decency and integrity." He said, "That means supporting Joe Biden, and I’m going to do that beginning right now," saying he'll "do everything humanly possible to ensure Joe Biden’s re-election this November because it’s that existential."
Dean, thanks for your warm thoughts. Welcome to the team. We need you with us,” Biden wrote in response to Phillips' tweet praising his “empathy and kindness.” Phillips is 55 and began his Biden challenge in October. The three-term congressman said he had to run against his party leader because Biden would lose to Trump in November.
"Meet the Press" that President Biden would lose if this election were held today, posing an existential threat to the US. That won't happen under my watch." Phillips declined to “demean” or “undermine” Biden, but he questioned his handling of the southern border immigration crisis. Phillips' campaign website expressed agreement with Biden's.
His withdrawal follows his November announcement that he will not seek re-election to Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District. Before Phillips entered the presidential candidacy, DNC member Ron Harris stated he would compete for his House seat in 2024. Early in the primaries, the Minnesota Democrat gained popularity. The state's leading newspaper, the New Hampshire Union Leader, backed him for the Democratic ticket a day before the primary.
He and GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley competed for state independents and undeclared voters. Phillips campaigned in New Hampshire, including in Nashua on Saturday, where he argued Biden shouldn't run again because he's 81.
We all know Joe Biden is good. “I respect him,” Phillips remarked. He should have handed over the torch. He should not run again. Age, yeah, stage of life. He's declining. We have real problems, costs, confusion, and challenges facing our country and the world that I think are hard for either of these two individuals to address.”
On Sunday in Rochester, New Hampshire, Phillips argued that his youth made him the superior candidate. “Joe Biden has no relationships with this generation of newly elected members of Congress,” he remarked. “He hasn’t been in the Senate for years.”
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