Democrat Dean Phillips is making a push to challenge President Biden in the upcoming New Hampshire primary, reaching out to both Republicans and Democrats in the state. The primary is scheduled for next Tuesday, and Phillips is eager to make a mark on the race. However, President Biden does not seem to be concerned. He has no plans to visit New Hampshire and is actually heading to North Carolina today to discuss his economic plans.
Despite not being on the ballot in New Hampshire, President Biden is polling far ahead of Phillips and other challengers. Almost 70% of Democratic voters plan to write Biden's name in, according to the latest poll. This is because the Democratic National Committee, at Biden's request, changed the rules to prioritize South Carolina and its primary. Biden's popularity remains strong, and he is confident in his campaign.
Supporting Phillips on the campaign trail is former presidential candidate Andrew Yang. Yang believes that Phillips can have a significant impact on the race if he can garner enough attention in New Hampshire. A recent poll showed Phillips at 28% with about 50% name recognition in the state. Yang is optimistic that as more people learn about the three-term Congressman challenging Biden, enthusiasm will grow.
The question remains, what threshold does Phillips need to cross to have a chance at moving the race forward? Yang believes that hitting at least 30% would be undeniable progress. He is confident that Phillips can come close to or even surpass that number. Yang explains that many voters are looking for an alternative to Biden, seeing him as a good man and a fine president, but believing it's time for the next generation to take the lead. Recent polls show Biden trailing Donald Trump in key swing states, which may be a cause for concern.
One potential challenge for Phillips is his ability to appeal to African-American voters, a crucial component of the Democratic electorate in states like Georgia and North Carolina. However, Yang argues that Biden's declining approval ratings across all demographics highlight an opportunity for Phillips. A fresh, non-polarizing figure like Phillips could be preferred by many Americans over Trump. Yang acknowledges that Biden carries baggage related to his age, inflation concerns, and comparisons to the Trump economy that some people view favorably.
Phillips recently received support from hedge fund investor Bill Ackman, who endorsed him and pledged a million-dollar donation to a super PAC supporting Phillips' campaign. Phillips faced criticism for removing a reference to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from his campaign site following Ackman's request. However, Phillips defended his decision, stating his belief in diversity and equity but wanting to focus on restorative justice. Yang emphasizes that Phillips genuinely cares about these issues and has proposed policies to address them, such as Medicare for All, a baby bond program, and an enhanced child tax credit.
Phillips and Yang are committed to making their case to voters in New Hampshire, as well as in South Carolina and Michigan in the coming days. They hope to generate widespread support for Phillips' campaign and present a real solution for American families.
