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Jimmy Williams
Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips has announced the suspension of his presidential campaign following a lackluster performance on Super Tuesday. Phillips, who criticized President Joe Biden’s age and electability during his campaign, failed to garner significant support from Democratic voters. Despite his prior criticisms, Phillips declared his endorsement for Biden’s reelection.
In an interview with The Chad Hartman Show, Phillips acknowledged the clear message from Democratic primary voters and conceded that he is not the preferred candidate. While he did not retreat from some critiques of President Biden, he emphasized the fundamental necessity of keeping him in the White House.
Phillips’ campaign strategy relied on a strong showing in New Hampshire, but he secured just under 20 percent of the vote there and struggled in subsequent states. Challenging Biden in the primaries transformed Phillips from a rising star in Congress into a figure viewed by many Democrats as undermining the party’s unity.
As a businessperson and heir to a liquor fortune, Phillips injected $5 million of his personal funds into the race. Two super PACs supporting him spent $3.9 million on independent expenditures, primarily targeting New Hampshire. However, Phillips scaled back spending following poor results in South Carolina.
Entering the race in October, Phillips initially expressed respect for Biden but argued that the president faced a serious risk of losing to former President Donald Trump. As the campaign progressed, Phillips became more critical of Biden and the Democratic Party. Despite these efforts, he failed to gain traction, especially as Biden’s general-election polling against Trump remained concerning.
Phillips oscillated between appealing to both the left and the party’s center during the race. While supporting a Medicare-for-All bill and criticizing Biden for not embracing marijuana legalization, he also took a more conservative stance on issues like border security. This mixed approach left many progressives wary of Phillips.
Additionally, an episode involving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts during Phillips’ campaign raised concerns. Phillips removed a reference to DEI from his website after receiving support from a major financial backer critical of the initiative.
Notably, Phillips had announced during his campaign that he would not seek reelection to the House. Following the suspension of his presidential bid, he affirmed that he “won’t run for office in Minnesota again.”
