For Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, it is either the White House or nothing.
Phillips, challenging President Joe Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination, announced in a news release Friday that he will step down from his seat.
“Seven years have passed, each presenting historic opportunities to practice a brand of optimistic politics that repairs relationships and improves people’s lives,” he said of his tenure in Congress.
Echoing his campaign slogan against Biden that it is time to turn over the reins, Phillips said of himself: “after three terms it is time to pass the torch.”
The congressman sounded a note of alarm about the country’s drift to intolerance.
Trending:
“America has endured for a remarkable 246 years as the longest-lasting democratic republic in the world, but we are facing a crisis of cooperation, common sense, and truth,” Phillips said.
“Civility matters, respect matters, listening matters, and effective governance matters,” he said. “No party has a monopoly on solutions, and we must stop fighting one another and begin fighting for one another — before it is too late.”
The candidate concluded by saying, “The future is very bright, as long as we have the courage and make the choice to seek it.”
Representing our nation’s most civically engaged community in Congress has been the most joyful experience of my life.
Now it’s time to pass the torch – with gratitude and optimism. https://t.co/j7UDPekcuI
— Rep. Dean Phillips 🇺🇸 (@RepDeanPhillips) November 24, 2023
But Phillips has become persona non grata to many Democrats.
Biden loyalist and Democratic Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina said in a post on X in October that the congressman, who is focusing his campaign on New Hampshire, is “not respecting the wishes of the titular head of our Party and the loyalties of some of our Party’s most reliable constituents.”
South Carolinians have demonstrated for decades that we are good predictors of great presidential candidates. Apparently, Dean Phillips disagrees.
He’s not respecting the wishes of the titular head of our Party and the loyalties of some of our Party’s most reliable constituents. https://t.co/uS1V6MSPQ5
— Jim Clyburn (@ClyburnSC06) October 27, 2023
Last week, Phillips walked back comments he made about Vice President Kamala Harris.
In an interview with The Atlantic, he was asked if Harris was ready to assume the presidency if need be.
“I think that Americans have made the decision that she’s not,” the congressman said.
“I hear from others who know her a lot better than I that many think she’s not well positioned, well prepared, of the right disposition, of the right competencies to execute that office,” Phillips said of Harris.
Could Joe Biden lose in the Democratic primary?
Yes: 91% (31 Votes)
No: 9% (3 Votes)
Referencing the low approval rating Harris receives in polls, he said, “It’s pretty clear … that she’s not somebody that people have faith in.”
Under fire from fellow Democrats over the remarks, Phillips backpedaled in an interview with CNN.
Also in our interview tonight, I asked @deanbphillips about the comments he made about VP Harris in a new Atlantic interview: pic.twitter.com/b4JzTc6fIE
— Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) November 22, 2023
He also issued an apology on X.
i owe an apology.
in the atlantic, i shared kind words about @VP harris because that’s been my personal experience and i respect her.
i shouldn’t have referenced other people’s opinions. i own that and apologize to her and everyone who’s been affected by similar circumstances.
— Congressman Dean Phillips 🇺🇸 (@deanbphillips) November 23, 2023
Phillips said he “shouldn’t have referenced other people’s opinions. [I] own that and apologize to her and everyone who’s been affected by similar circumstances.”
