Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) reiterated his calls for President Joe Biden to be challenged in the Democratic primary for the 2024 presidential election after a special counsel was appointed to investigate the president’s son, Hunter.
Phillips echoed his calls from over the weekend that most Democrats and independents are not satisfied with the current options in the Democratic presidential primary. He warned that the unpopularity of the current candidates could hurt Democrats’ chances of maintaining the White House. His comments came while speaking on CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper on Friday.
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“It’s not about me. This is about a message and a wake-up call that I am trying my darnedest to deliver to Democrats, 55% of whom, before today’s news, wanted an alternative to the three candidates in the primary now, and I’ve said that from the very beginning, I’ve had concerns. The numbers are horrific — the polling numbers: 55% of Democrats wanting an alternative, independents about 73% want an alternative, and let me just assume that 100% moderate Republican never-Trumpers are saying we want an alternative, we will not vote for the sitting president,” Phillips said.
The Minnesota Democrat also expressed how his calls for Biden to be challenged are not because of any disdain for the president, and he added that he loves Biden and thinks he has a great record but is rather sounding the alarm on polling numbers among all groups.
“I am scared. I’m trying to raise that bell, be the clearing call if you will,” Phillips continued. “I’m not best positioned to do this. There are ample well-prepared competent people of great character ready to go.”
Phillips also called the appointment of a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden “a sad day” and expressed his concerns that the investigation into the president’s son could hurt Joe Biden’s chances at winning the 2024 presidential election.
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The president is widely expected to cruise to the Democratic nomination with no major Democrats challenging him in the 2024 primary. He leads the Democratic presidential primary over Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson by nearly 50%, according to RealClearPolitics.
Expected top Democratic presidential contenders, including Govs. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), have opted not to run in 2024 and have endorsed Biden for four more years in the White House. At 80 years old, Biden is the oldest commander in chief in U.S. history.
