Dean Phillips announces long-shot presidential campaign to oust Biden
A compelling candidate ahead of his time?
Image Credit: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
In a bold move Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips has launched a long-shot challenge against incumbent President Joe Biden, vying for the Democratic nomination in the 2024 presidential election.
His campaign, a nod to Donald Trump's famous phrase, aims to "Make America Affordable Again."
It seems Phillips is driven by a real desire to see Democrats face up to Biden’s age issue. But he doesn't appear to have the reach or the backing to launch any lasting challenge.
Phillips, born in St. Paul, Minnesota is among the wealthiest members of the House of Representatives. His family lineage in the distilling industry and business ventures are the core of his financial standing.
He challenged and succeeded in flipping a long-held Republican congressional district in 2018 and his bipartisan approach has ranked him highly in Congress.
Phillips' motivation for the challenge stems from concerns about Biden's potential inability to win a general election rematch against Donald Trump.
His criticism has also extended to policy areas, highlighting rising domestic costs and suggesting a redirection of foreign aid packages to alleviate domestic issues.
He is placing an emphasis on the economy, border security, and a call for generational change.
By acknowledging Trump's success in engaging alienated voters, Phillips is setting his sights on immigration and border control as a focal point of his campaign, critiquing Biden's administration for its handling of the issue.
The congressman’s move to contest Biden faces a steep challenge, primarily due to the president's formidable fundraising efforts, who has a substantial campaign war chest of $71 million.
So far, his challenge has been met with surprise and speculation among Minnesota Democrats, who anticipated his future foray into statewide politics, not a direct challenge to the sitting president.
His decision has led fellow Democrats to gear up for a potential bid for Phillips' House seat.
Despite his declaration that Democratic voters deserve a competition rather than a coronation, the odds of Phillips clinching the nomination remain slim.
Recent polling indicates significant concerns about Biden's age among Democratic voters, with a sizable percentage preferring an alternate nominee. However, Phillips' chances against the well-funded and supported Biden are deemed minimal, though not entirely impossible.