During a Sunday appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips from Minnesota expressed his desire for a change in leadership, as reported by Fox News.
“I have great respect for Biden but believe it’s time for him to pass the torch to new leaders,” the congressman conveyed to host Chuck Todd. “I would prefer to see a moderate governor, ideally from the heartland, one of the four states Democrats will need.”
Phillips underscored the significance of primary elections in the democratic process, suggesting that competition would strengthen his party’s chances in future elections.
“Anyone who wishes to run, whether it’s Joe Manchin, Cornel West… that’s precisely why we have primaries, as it doesn’t diminish the chances of ultimately electing a Democrat to the White House,” he explained. “I am actively inviting, encouraging to some extent, imploring those who are ready and recognize that it’s probably time to step up.”
This wasn’t the first time Phillips indicated his view that Joe Biden should not be the Democratic Party’s 2024 presidential nominee.
“In a July interview with NBC News, he stated, “I believe the country would benefit from a new generation of compelling, well-prepared, dynamic Democrats stepping forward.”
Fox News commentator Lisa Boothe highlighted the Democratic Party’s dilemma, pointing out that while many within the party might be open to a change in leadership, the alternative could be Vice President Harris.
Boothe said, “I recently saw a poll where even 50 percent of Democrats preferred a different nominee in the 2024 election.”
“So, they would like to replace him, but then they are faced with Kamala Harris, which presents an interesting scenario for them,” she added.
Boothe discussed the challenges facing the Democratic Party, particularly regarding the vice president’s popularity.
“Kamala Harris is the least popular vice president in American history,” Boothe noted, “even less popular than Dick Cheney after he shot someone.”
Co-host Joe Concha chimed in, suggesting that challenging President Biden from within his own party might be an uphill battle.
Concha referenced a New York Times focus group, saying, “They took 12 Biden voters, and they asked all 12 of them – these are 2020 Biden voters – ‘Do you think Joe Biden’s a strong leader?’ All 12 answered no. ‘Do you think he’s disappointing as a president?’ All 12 answered yes. ‘Do you think he should run in 2024?’ All 12 answered no. ‘Who are you voting for in 2024?’ All 12 answered Joe Biden.”
Concha expressed his belief that Americans now tend to vote against candidates rather than enthusiastically for a particular candidate, emphasizing this as the strategy Democrats are banking on.
He cited comments from a New York Times focus group, where one participant stated, “I voted against Trump” in the 2020 election, and another described voting for Biden as choosing the “lesser of two evils.”
