Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) reportedly has told colleagues he intends to launch a primary challenge against Joe Biden.

“Two people familiar with the discussions said that the Minnesota Democrat has told some colleagues of his intent to run, though a third person who has talked to Phillips recently said he had demurred when asked,” POLITICO reports.

When asked point blank if he was running against Biden, Phillips reportedly replied “we’ll see.”

Via POLITICO:

Phillips has frequently called for Biden to face a primary challenger, citing the president’s age and arguing that he has a “sense that the country is begging for alternatives.”

And he has taken several steps in recent weeks toward launching a presidential run, including calling New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley last week and reaching out to several potential staffers about working in New Hampshire.

Among those he’s approached are Steve Schmidt, a former Republican consultant, and Bill Fletcher, a Tennessee-based Democratic consultant, according to a person familiar with the nascent campaign. Schmidt and Fletcher did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Messenger first reported Phillips’ outreach to Schmidt.

Phillips would face extreme difficulty overcoming the corrupt Democratic National Committee.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. learned how rigged the DNC made its primary in favor of Biden and decided to launch an independent campaign.

The Minnesota Democrat would surely face the same challenges.

Bill Burton, former deputy press secretary for Barack Obama, said “this is not something I took seriously even for a second.”

Phillips’ team reportedly approached the Democrat consultant about a potential presidential campaign.

“Someone asked for a conversation and I wasn’t willing to have one,” Burton said.

The Washington Free Beacon added:

“We’re at grave risk of another Trump presidency,” Phillips told the Washington Post in an interview in August, saying Biden should “pass the torch, open the stage.”

Phillips first suggested in July that he was considering a run against Biden for the nomination.

He told the New York Times at the time that he has “been overwhelmed with outreach and encouragement” and was going to make a decision.

Phillips pointed to Biden’s age, the highest of any president in history, as a concern.

“God forbid the president has a health episode or something happens in the middle of a primary,” Phillips said.

 

Join The Conversation. Leave a Comment.


We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.