Dean Phillips is embracing his underdog role in his shaky debut against Joe Biden.
The Minnesota Democrat is betting that his message of change in a broken political system will resonate with voters. The political newcomer is hoping he can defy the odds and unseat the well-known former vice president, who has led in early polls of the presidential race.
Phillips, a 47-year-old businessman who was elected to Congress in 2018, is trying to make his mark in a crowded field of Democratic primary candidates. He’s running on a platform of reform, presenting himself as a refreshing voice in a political system riven by partisanship.
“I’m the longshot,” he said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. “I’m the one that people are like, ‘Who is this guy? What’s he all about?’”
Phillips has framed his campaign around the need for reform, including reforming the criminal justice system, transforming the economy into one that works for all Americans and increasing transparency in government. He has released a series of policy prescriptions, including several that are unconventional, such as a plan to expand the earned income tax credit and offer free college tuition.
As a political newcomer, Phillips is still trying to build name recognition and distinguish himself from the rest of the crowded field. His fundraising efforts have been slow to start, and he has been virtually absent from the airwaves so far. He’s facing an uphill battle against Biden, whose name recognition and fundraising prowess gives him an edge.
Still, Phillips isn’t backing down from the challenge. He’s pushing forward with his message of reform and hoping his ideas will resonate with voters.
“I’m doing this because I think we can do something different than we’re doing right now,” he said. “I’m doing this because I’m tired of the political system that has let us down and that is blocking the kind of progress and progressivism that the American people so desperately want.”
