Dean Phillips jumps into Democrat race because he's afraid Biden will lose

Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) entered the 2024 presidential race last week, telling NBC's Meet the Press that he's afraid President Joe Biden will lose to former President Donald Trump.

“Right now, if this election was held today, President Biden would lose, and it is an existential threat to the future of the United States of America," Phillips said.

He expressed confidence that he can win the nomination even though he's getting into the race much later than other candidates. He said he will support whomever the voting public nominates, however.

“I will not demean the president; I will not undermine him,” Phillips said. “Whoever the Democratic nominee is — I believe it will be me — but if it is someone else, I promise to do everything I can — every ounce of energy, every moment of my day — to ensure that he or she is elected, because that’s how important it is right now.”

Phillips is a relative political unknown, having inherited his stepfather's distilling company, and he has also been CEO of ice cream maker Talenti.

He said he believes the country needs a leader who "does not come from 50 years of spending time in Washington.”