‘Of Course It’s Rigged’: Dean Phillips Says He’s Not Just Running Against Biden But the DNC ‘Machine’

Minnesota Democrat and presidential candidate Rep. Dean Phillips was met with some resistance on Friday after saying in an interview with MSNBC’s Kristen Welker that he is not running “against” President Joe Biden in 2024, despite his running against Biden in 2024. Phillips offered a modified version of that argument on Saturday when speaking with CNN’s Michael Smerconish.

Phillips is in fact running against Biden in the Democratic primary, having announced his challenge last week. Polling has consistently shown that Democrats across the country are in favor of a primary challenge to the incumbent party leader, and the base voters have expressed dissatisfaction over the current state of affairs in the United States.

On Saturday’s Smerconish, the host prompted the Democrat challenger to give his “elevator pitch” on how he can win the nomination.

Phillips immediately pointed out that he’s not running just against the president, he’s running against the party itself.

“Well, the good news, Michael, is thank goodness, we still live in a country voters make the decision. If they want, this is a choice,” he said. “Now, I’ve got the Democratic National Committee competing against me, an extraordinarily large machine. Of course, it’s rigged against any challenger candidate under any circumstance.”

After that explicit acknowledgement that he is running against the presumptive nominee and the party apparatus, Phillips then repeated to Smerconish the line that drew criticism on Friday, saying: “I’m not running against President Biden. I admire him. I’m running for the future.”

He then somewhat contradictorily said that pushing aside challengers who would run against Biden would be antithetical to democracy.

The two then discussed Biden’s weaknesses, with Phillips saying that Biden poll numbers show “some of the lowest approval ratings in American presidential history.”

“I don’t know how more loudly American voters can speak. Over 50 percent of Democratic voters simply want an alternative. I’m raising my hand,” he said of his running against Biden.

On Friday’s Real Time on HBO, host Bill Maher and Fox News pundit Jessica Tarlov got into it over Phillips challenging Biden, with Tarlov essentially arguing that a challenge to Biden will cost the party overall.

SMERCONISH: Okay. So, give us the elevator pitch on how you can actually win the nomination.

PHILLIPS: Well, the good news, Michael, is thank goodness, we still live in a country voters make the decision. If they want, this is a choice.

Now, I’ve got the Democratic National Committee competing against me, an extraordinarily large machine. Of course, it’s rigged against any challenger candidate under any circumstance.

But what a beautiful example of American democracy, where anybody 35 years old, U.S. citizen, born here, can enter this ring in New Hampshire just like I did yesterday, first in the nation primary since 100 — 103 years ago, talking with people, making your case.

We’re going to win New Hampshire. That will put us on the radar screen, and I’m going to introduce myself to the country and only give people a choice.

I’m not running against President Biden. I admire him. I’m running for the future. I’m running to provide people a choice because if Democrats with a big D defeat democracy with a small D by pushing people aside, telling them to stand down and get out, that is antithetical to meeting the moment and it’s our generation’s turn to take those reins.

(CROSSTALK)

SMERCONISH: But, Congressman — Congressman, when you say — when you say you admire him and admire his record and be supportive in the Congress, you then are going to have to complete the sentence which says, but I don’t think he can beat Donald Trump. Are you ready to make that case in order to win the nomination?

PHILLIPS: Absolutely. That is my case. I don’t need to make it. Look at the polls.

Last week’s ABC News poll has President Biden down 9 points nationally. The Bloomberg poll has him losing in five of these six key battleground states. You just referenced the lowest — some of the lowest approval ratings in American presidential history.

I don’t know how more loudly American voters can speak. Over 50 percent of Democratic voters simply want an alternative. I’m raising my hand. I’m entering this ring because I think Americans deserve that very alternative.

I’m going to run a spirited, joyful, optimistic campaign based on strength and fortitude and give people a choice. And if I don’t succeed, rest assured, I will do everything I can — I will work just as hard for President Biden or whoever the nominee might be to ensure that Donald Trump does not return to the White House.

And if that wasn’t enough, Michael, Matt Gaetz of all people, Matt Gaetz yesterday tweeted that it would be harder for Donald Trump to beat Dean Phillips than to beat Joe Biden. That is the very case I’m going to be making —

(CROSSTALK)

SMERCONISH: Congressman, I have — I have no doubt that there is a craving, that there is a hunger. I’m very familiar with all the data. I track this of Americans who want a choice, and don’t like the status quo.

The fundamental question is whether your route is the best way to get it done, meaning within a Democratic nomination fight where you’re a unique guy willing to talk about border security and crime, as opposed to running as an independent, maybe a No Labels candidate. Surely, you evaluated that path and ruled it out.

What’s the short answer as to why?

PHILLIPS: I say shame on anybody who might run as an independent candidate in this consequential race, the most important election in our country’s history, whether it’s Cornel West, whether it’s Robert Kennedy, whether it’s any other initiative that would have an alternative candidate that would peel votes from whomever would be taking on Donald Trump — shame on you. I would never do that.

I’m doing this in the way that we have constructed our democracy and we as Democrats do it — through a thoughtful, spirited primary. And I do not intend to undercut the president. I do not intend to demean him, diminish him.

I will make my case for the future. It is complimentary of him, but it’s also more bold for the future. And I think that’s exactly what Americans need.

I’m troubled by those who somehow are fearful of choice, fearful of freedom and fearful of doing exactly what our Founders intended when they created our country almost 250 years ago.

I think once people see how I’m doing this, it might surprise, it might delight, and it might actually inspire our country to make the choice to move to the future. It’s not that difficult if you’re really paying attention to what people are listening to. And that’s what I’ve been doing.

SMERCONISH: Congressman, thank you for being here. We appreciate it.

PHILLIPS: Anytime, Michael.

Watch the clip above, via CNN.

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