Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) is reportedly planning on announcing a presidential campaign in New Hampshire next week to challenge President Joe Biden, who Phillips does not believe has what it takes to win a second term in office.
POLITICO reported that Phillips will launch his bid on October 27 in Concord, New Hampshire, but cautioned he could still back out of it.
Phillips has played footsie with the idea for months as he has tried to encourage other, more prominent Democrats to jump into the race after saying earlier this year that he planned on running for president one day, but he wasn’t sure if he was ready at this moment in time.
A Democrat consulting firm obtained a permit for the State House Plaza next Friday morning for the alleged forthcoming announcement, the report said.
Dean stepped down from his leadership position within the House Democrats over his public calls for others to step up and challenge Biden.
While Dean has taken steps toward launching a campaign, many Democrats who spoke with POLITICO said that if he was serious, he should have launched a campaign six months ago and that he’s too late to the game now.
During an interview back in August, Phillips told CBS News’ “Face the Nation” with Major Garrett: “Democrats are telling me that they want, not a coronation, but they want a competition”
Phillips suggested that if Democrats do not run someone else as the party’s nominee in 2024, the consequences “are going to be disastrous.”
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“So my call is to those who are well positioned, well prepared, have good character and competency, they know who they are, to jump in, because Democrats and the country need competition,” he said, later adding: “I do not believe I’m well positioned to run for it right now. People who are should jump in because we need to meet the moment. The moment is now. That is what the country is asking.”