[ad_1]
Phillips’ announcement came on the same day that former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley announced she was suspending her campaign, with Biden and Trump holding a majority in the Super Tuesday primaries. It’s another sign that the cycle is turning to the general election, as both parties rally behind Trump’s campaign. Possible candidates.
“I certainly hoped and expected that this initiative would yield more rewards and more joy and hope, but in a country that still celebrates democracy as much as I do, people objected to it. It’s clear that there are,” Phillips said.
The Minnesota congressman has spent much of his campaign arguing that Biden’s low approval ratings and age will hurt the 81-year-old incumbent and jeopardize Democrats’ chances of holding the White House in a showdown with Trump. was spent on. But Phillips, who faced occasional hostile or unfriendly reactions from voters during his campaign, failed to gain significant support even in his areas of focus.
When Phillips launched his campaign in late October, he acknowledged he was an underdog facing hurdles. He set his sights on New Hampshire, campaigning in the state where the primary was first held against Democratic National Committee rules and where Mr. Biden chose not to appear on the ballot. Biden still easily defeated him as a write-in candidate, and the president’s allies are calling on voters to show symbolic support by voting. Mr. Biden received about 64% of the vote, compared to 20% for Mr. Phillips.
Later, in the Democratic primary in South Carolina, Mr. Biden won over 96% of the vote, while Mr. Phillips was running in third place with less than 2% of the vote. Ahead of the Michigan primary, he announced significant cuts to his campaign staff, but insisted he would remain in the race until the Democratic National Convention in August. In Michigan, he lost with nearly 3%, far behind Mr. Biden, who received 81% and 13% for “irresponsible.” Mr. Biden won every Super Tuesday race, including Mr. Phillips’ home state of Minnesota.
After a string of losses, Phillips acknowledged his unpopularity, writing on Congratulations to Mr., Marianne Williamson and Nikki Haley.” Tuesday.
Mr. Phillips, 55, is relatively unknown outside of Washington and Minnesota, flipping his congressional district in 2018 and previously running his family’s distilling company and businesses including Talenti Gelato. His staunch support of Biden until a year before announcing his campaign has also put him at odds with Democrats who say Phillips has no basis to oppose the president’s agenda. Ta.
In addition to supporting Biden because of his age, Phillips said he feels the president could have done more to curb inflation and reduce costs for Americans.
He focused much of his early efforts on introducing himself to voters, hosting town halls in New Hampshire, personally soliciting small-dollar donors, and using the slogan “Everyone is invited.” The focus was on traveling by bus.
Before participating himself, Phillips had repeatedly encouraged other Democrats to participate in the primary. When no one did, Phillips resigned from his leadership role as co-chairman of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, citing disagreements with others in the party and with Biden himself. The showdown began.
During the election campaign, he often pointed out: vote It showed that the average Democrat would fare much better against Mr. Trump than Mr. Biden.
“I’ve never wanted to be a generic drug,” he told Dartmouth College students in November. “But if that means I can defeat Donald Trump much better than President Biden, then I’ll be your average Democrat.”
Asked in mid-November when he would consider withdrawing from the race, Phillips told The Washington Post that he intended to win but would hand the race to someone who could beat Trump.
“If it becomes clear that there is someone who is better positioned to defeat Donald Trump, whether it’s President Biden or me or any other candidate, I’m not sure who,” he said. You know, I’m going to support whoever is in the most advantageous position.”
[ad_2]
Source link
