ABC News confirmed on Wednesday that Rep. Dean Phillips has decided to suspend his presidential campaign, following a disappointing performance in the Super Tuesday primary elections.
After a lackluster showing in the primaries, Phillips acknowledged in a somber social media post that his attempt to offer a Democratic alternative to President Joe Biden fell short. He conceded that he was perceived as less appealing than both the incumbent president and fellow candidate, self-help author Marianne Williamson. Interestingly, he even trailed behind an unspecified vote for “uncommitted.” Notably, Biden secured a decisive victory over Phillips in the latter’s home state of Minnesota on Tuesday, with “uncommitted” also outperforming him.
Given that Phillips was challenging a sitting president, his presidential bid was always considered a longshot. Despite expressing concerns about Biden’s age, Phillips faced significant challenges, especially in key primaries such as Michigan, where he finished fourth behind Biden, “uncommitted,” and Williamson.
The campaign also experienced embarrassing setbacks, including a connection to a street magician associated with a Phillips staffer who released an AI-generated robocall.
In a perhaps desperate move, Phillips floated the idea of a unity ticket with the now-former GOP candidate Nikki Haley. The suspension of Phillips’ campaign leaves open the question of whether he holds onto hope for future political endeavors.
