Three ways Dean Phillips is bad news for Biden
October 27, 2023 08:37 AM
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) is set to launch a 2024 presidential campaign today, cementing his long-shot challenge against President Joe Biden. Phillips brings a number of distinct qualities and positions to the race that could upset Biden’s campaign.
“I am running for the Democratic nomination … not in opposition to our current president, who has my appreciation and gratitude, rather with two core convictions,” he’ll include in remarks ahead of filing for candidacy in New Hampshire, per Politico.
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New generation of candidates
There is growing unrest across partisan lines that Biden is too old to hold office. The president, 80, would be 86 at the end of his second term — making him, for the second time, the oldest person to assume the U.S. presidency.
Once a lesser-known member of the Democratic Party, Phillips has raised concerns about a Biden reelection in recent months because of the president’s age, stepping down from his Democratic leadership role in anticipation of a presidential run.
“I am a Democratic candidate who can win the 2024 general election,” Phillips will say. “And it’s time for the torch to be passed to a new generation of American leaders.”
Willing to talk about the border
While Republicans typically feature crime as a top concern for their campaign and slam Biden’s border policies, Democrats are slow to rebuff where the Biden administration has fallen short at the border.
“Chaos at our border and in our cities is growing, while our commitment to countering it is receding,” Phillips will say.
With an influx of migrants coming into blue cities, posing significant resource threats to towns with limited supply, the ground has shifted on immigration within the Democratic Party. A majority of Democrats, 61%, want stronger law enforcement at the border, according to AP VoteCast.
A new perspective from Phillips could unify the party on the border, while Biden has recently alienated Democrats by embracing border policies from the Trump administration — authorizing the construction of 20 miles of border barriers for the southern wall.
Willing to talk about crime
Phillips has indicated he is unafraid to tackle crime, setting him apart from other Democrats. Phillips will address crime-related concerns on Friday.
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Republicans have long labeled Biden and his party as “soft on crime,” while the GOP encourages additional funding for police and tougher sentencing for criminals.
Phillips’s willingness to discuss crime could attract blue voters who prioritize safety and security as dozens of cities have recorded a rise in homicides in recent months.