Longshot Democratic presidential contender Dean Phillips has declared significant layoffs within his campaign staff, citing challenges in fundraising. Despite speculation about the potential end of his presidential bid, Phillips remains determined to stay in the race, as affirmed in a video posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).
In the video, Phillips expressed the difficulty of raising sufficient funds to run the campaign as desired, leading to the unfortunate decision to lay off a substantial number of staff members. While the announcement raised questions about the viability of his candidacy, Phillips emphasized his commitment to continue until the Democratic National Convention in August.
Scheduled to appear in Michigan ahead of the Feb. 27 presidential primary, all upcoming travel plans have been canceled. Phillips will remain in Washington, D.C., according to a campaign spokeswoman.
Since launching his campaign in late October, Phillips has struggled to gain traction in both fundraising and polling. Recent defeats in New Hampshire and South Carolina, where he failed to surpass 2 percent of the vote, highlight the challenges he faces. Phillips also faced controversies, including removing “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” language from his campaign website and briefly considering a third-party bid on the No Labels ticket before retracting the idea.
Despite these setbacks, Phillips has centered his bid on highlighting President Biden’s age, arguing that the 81-year-old president is vulnerable against former President Donald Trump, who is 77. Phillips referenced the special counsel’s report, which described Biden as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” and expressed concerns about Biden’s “physical and communicative declines.”
The future of Phillips’ campaign remains uncertain, but his determination to persevere through challenges adds an interesting dynamic to the evolving landscape of the 2024 Democratic presidential race.
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