MANCHESTER, N.H.: Rep. Dean Phillips, the longshot Democrat challenging President Biden, is sharpening his attacks in the final days before Tuesday's New Hampshire primary.
Why it matters: Even if Phillips' campaign is unsuccessful, his increasingly pointed attacks will be fodder for Republicans to use against Biden in a general election.
Why it matters: Even if Phillips' campaign is unsuccessful, his increasingly pointed attacks will be fodder for Republicans to use against Biden in a general election.
- Phillips, 55, told Axios that it would be "impossible" for Biden to do the job for four more years.
- Biden would turn 85 in the third year of another term.
- "At that stage of life, it is impossible ultimately to conduct, to prosecute the office of the American presidency in the way that this country in the world needs right now. That is an absolute truth."
- Polls have shown Biden dominant in the state's primary even though he is not on the ballot, but Phillips said that he will continue his campaign regardless of the results next Tuesday.
- There have not been many recent high quality polls of the Democratic contest, but a CNN poll earlier in January found Phillips polling at 7%.
- In the final days before the contest, Phillips is arguing that anything less than a 60-point victory for Biden should be considered a loss. "Popular and electable incumbents should earn 80%+, even by write-in," he wrote on X on Friday.
- They are often adorned with "I'm keen on Dean" buttons and posters that simply read: "COURAGE."
- Self-aware, his campaign sells a hat that reads: "Dean Who?"
- Still, the earnest and sometimes corny Phillips called the the presidential campaign trail a "wonderful, joyful, and all-American Journey."
- "I think it is imperative that we have actionable data as close to that convention as possible that identifies which Democratic candidate is best positioned to defeat Donald Trump. And should that be Joe Biden, I would get behind him."
- Phillips has framed himself as a reluctant candidate who only ran because other Democrats wouldn't.
- Ken Martin, the chair of the the Minnesota state party, said Phillips going all the way to the convention floor would be "overturning the will of the voters."
- He added: "This is not only undemocratic but just another example of him putting his ego ahead of our party, our country, and Democratic voters showing up to have their voices heard in this important process."
- "You can't be afraid of people with different ideas who want to challenge you," Shaheen said. "Phillips is reflecting concerns around the country on the age issue. He's a smart guy and his heart is in the right place. I think we need fellas like him in the party."
- The Biden campaign declined to comment.