As another potential November Trump-Biden showdown looms, a Democratic congressman is challenging Joe Biden in the Democratic primary: Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota.
“As someone who strongly believes that we are a country based on competition, not coronation, I feel encouraged if there is no better-known candidate entering the stage to compete for the Democratic nomination against Joe Biden,” said the 55-year-old man. Position.
Phillips spoke to The Post from the campaign trail in New Hampshire, ahead of Tuesday’s Democratic primary.
According to a poll by the American Research Group, he has managed to obtain 32% of the support of likely Democratic voters in New Hampshire during 10 ten-week campaigns.
But Phillips said the DNC had sought to obstruct the vote by altering the Democratic primary schedule and preventing the involvement of delegates from New Hampshire.
When asked if what the DNC is doing is anti-democratic, Phillips said, “Yes, by definition.”
Democratic representative and presidential candidate Dean Phillips said the DNC is undermining primary voter rights. REUTERS Phillips said it was unclear whether Biden, who appointed Jaime Harrison (left) to chair the Democratic National Committee, had been asked about changes to the state’s primary process. Getty Images
In fact, the New Hampshire Attorney General even sent a cease and desist letter to the DNC, accusing them of illegal voter suppression.
Meanwhile, the DNC also blocked ballot printing in Florida and North Carolina and declared there would be no debate.
“I don’t know how to put this effort better than, yes, a threat to democracy by undermining it and suppressing it,” Phillips told The Post.
He said he didn’t know if Biden was behind the DNC’s recent actions: “I think President Biden has a responsibility to at least be asked questions about this. I don’t see any evidence that he was asked.”
The state of New Hampshire sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Democratic National Committee, accusing the group of illegal voter suppression. AP
Nevertheless, he believes it is President Biden’s responsibility to do something about it.
“If there is no response, I have to take responsibility because he is the president of the United States and the leader of the Democratic Party,” he said.
“I believe democracy dies without competition, and right now I fear we have two political parties that are actively working against the foundations of democracy.”
Live election results from New Hampshire
Phillips, an entrepreneur and co-owner of Talenti Gelato, has represented Minnesota’s 3rd congressional district since 2019, when he unseated a four-term Republican incumbent.
But he said he found a “dysfunctional, poorly led, inescapable mess” on Capitol Hill.
Before entering politics in 2019, Phillips was an entrepreneur and co-owner of Talenti Gelato. AP
“With both parties moving further into the corner, it creates an opening for people with pragmatism and common sense to invite the tired majority to the table,” he said.
Phillips served as vice chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus and ranked second in the bipartisanship of members of Congress.
He said he intends to continue that track record in the White House by engaging advisers in both parties while promoting affordable housing, Medicare For All and the child tax credit.
A recent poll found Phillips with 32% of Democratic voters in New Hampshire. Reuters
Despite championing progressive efforts and cross-partisan cooperation, Phillips said Biden’s challenge has made him an enemy of the mainstream media.
He said his campaign is relying on alternative media platforms to get his message across after being stymied by MSNBC and CNN, which did not grant him interviews after holding town halls for each of the Republican primary challengers to Trump.
Instead, he’s been doing the podcast circuit, most recently talking to Bari Weiss, Megyn Kelly and Scott Galloway. And he’s had a blast on X, with public expressions of support from Jordan Peterson and live conversations with Elon Musk and Bill Ackman earlier this month.
Phillips will compete against Biden in the Democratic primary in New Hampshire on Tuesday. Reuters
Phillips was criticized for replacing references to “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” with “Equity & Restorative Justice” after Ackman, a vocal critic of DEI, pledged to donate $1 million to a political PAC supporting his campaign.
Phillips’ campaign later defended the move, saying “DEI now means different things to different people that it’s no longer descriptive.
And, according to Phillips, that obstacle extends to the Democratic Party itself.
Phillips said that he would like to see America turn the page to the next generation from Trump and Biden. AP
“Those who try to have the courage to practice democracy like me are ostracized,” he told The Post. “There is the greatest risk to democracy: When people with different perspectives… oppose their party, we now live in an era where it is not only not welcome but it results in exile.”
Despite the DNC’s efforts, New Hampshire will proceed with their primary as planned, where Phillips hopes to make a splash and prove that incumbents do not guarantee victory.
“I think people are beginning to realize that we now have two men who for different reasons are unacceptable as candidates for president of the United States,” said the Minnesota Representative. “I’d like to see us turn the page from Trump and Biden to the next generation.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
