Who is Dean Phillips' mother? Minnesota Rep may look to run against Joe Biden in shock move
CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE: Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips, the son of DeeDee Phillips (nee Cohen), is reportedly planning to enter the 2024 race for the White House as a challenger for the Democratic nomination.
According to sources cited by Politico, Phillips is set to officially launch his presidential campaign this upcoming Friday, October 27, in Concord, New Hampshire.
The report notes that a permit for the State House Plaza in Concord had been secured by the Democratic consulting firm Fletcher Ridge, signaling the impending campaign launch.
An insider familiar with the campaign informed the publication that Phillips had engaged with Fletcher Ridge for support.
Phillips' recent resignation and contact with Democratic Party chair
Phillips recently stepped down from his position in the House Democratic Leadership, announcing his consideration of a challenge against President Biden.
Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley confirmed that Phillips had reached out to him regarding filing for the presidential ballot.
Notably, Buckley admitted that he had to search for information about Phillips online to familiarize himself with the potential contender.
"I had to Google him to find out who he was," Buckley told News 9, adding that he also said to Phillips that once a candidate files their name, they cannot withdraw from the ballot.
"Joe Biden started coming up to me in the 1970s, and that's usually the pathway that successful candidates take. For Dean to try to introduce himself in just a matter of weeks and make a mark in the primary, I think it's going to be a heavy load," Buckley added.
Fellow Democrats in Washington and New Hampshire have expressed mixed reactions to Phillips' entry into the race, with some criticizing the move for potentially weakening President Biden.
However, Rep Betty McCollum from Minnesota expressed a more accepting perspective, acknowledging that Phillips has the right to pursue his presidential aspirations.
"Dean’s going to do what he wants to do. It’s a free country, and if that’s where his heart is and he wants to do it, then he should," she said.
The timing of the campaign launch on the following Friday coincides with the deadline for filing a presidential run in the state of New Hampshire, adding a sense of urgency to the situation.
Some political experts, including Terry Shumaker, a veteran of multiple Democratic presidential campaigns in New Hampshire, have raised doubts about Phillips' chances.
"New Hampshire voters are not going to cut off their nose to spite their face. New Hampshire Democrats and Independents recognize that Biden has done a really good job," Shumaker said.
"Phillips can try [to exploit the calendar], but he should’ve started six months ago. Frankly, I think it's too late," he added.
Phillips' concerns and lack of viable alternatives
In the past, Phillips voiced concerns about the absence of a viable alternative to President Biden in the Democratic primary.
In September, during an appearance on Steve Schmidt's podcast 'The Warning', he said, "I'm concerned that there is no alternative. I'm concerned that something could happen between now and next November that would make the Democratic Convention in Chicago an unmitigated disaster."
President Biden has yet to face a substantial challenge from within his party despite concerns about his age, occasional gaffes, and a desire among voters for alternative choices.
Marianne Williamson and Robert F Kennedy Jr briefly presented challenges, but neither has gained substantial support.
Age is a prominent issue in this context as Biden, at the age of 80, is currently the oldest president in US history. If re-elected, he would be 86 by the time his second term concludes.
A Wall Street Journal poll revealed that 75 percent of voters, including two-thirds of Democrats, consider Biden too old to seek re-election.
President Biden has acknowledged the focus on his age and argued that his experience qualifies him for the role.
"A lot of people seem focused on my age. Believe me, I know better than anyone," he admitted at a fundraiser in New York recently.
"When this nation was flat on its back, I knew what to do. I am more optimistic about the future of this country than in the 800 years I've served," Biden quipped.
Dean Phillips, a three-term moderate Democrat from the Minneapolis suburbs, has a background in corporate marketing and branding.
Notably, his grandmother was Pauline Esther Phillips, known as the renowned advice columnist Dear Abby.