Rep. Dean Phillips mounts Democratic presidential primary bid

Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) has mounted a Democratic presidential primary challenge against incumbent President Joe Biden.

While Phillips speaks highly of the president, he says that he is concerned former President Donald Trump could win the 2024 general election if Biden becomes the Democratic nominee.

Trump has been trouncing the rest of the GOP presidential primary field in polls and appears to be on track to easily win the Republican presidential nomination. Marianne Williamson has been running for the Democratic presidential nomination, but Biden holds a massive lead in the polls. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was previously running as a Democrat, but earlier this month, declared himself an independent presidential candidate.

"I didn't set out to enter this race," Phillips noted in a social media post. "But it looks like on our current course, the Democrats will lose and Trump will be our President again. President Biden is a good man and someone I tremendously respect. I understand why other Democrats don't want to run against him, and why we are here. This is a last-minute campaign, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and courage is an important value to me."

"If President Biden is the Democratic nominee, we face an unacceptable risk of Trump being back in the White House. I know this campaign is a long shot, but that is why I think it is important and worth doing," the lawmaker noted.

Phillips, who has served as a congressman since early 2019, has said that he hopes others will jump into the Democratic primary contest.

"Do you believe that your candidacy could soften the ground for others to get in?" Robert Costa of CBS News asked Phillips.

"I hope it does. I know it's rare for somebody entering this arena to actually invite competition, but we need it," the congressman replied.

Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips enters presidential race, challenging Biden for Democratic spotwww.youtube.com

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