Presidential hopeful Dean Phillips made major cuts to his campaign staff but says he is not bowing out of the race.
Phillips Cuts Staff Amidst Lagging Campaign
Vying for the Democratic nomination in a long-shot campaign against President Biden, Dean Phillips promises he’s in it to win it.
But he has faced challenges keeping his bid alive, and now he has laid off a number of staff members as a result.
Fundraising Has Proven Difficult for Phillips
Phillips has faced fundraising trouble since announcing his campaign, which is largely due to the fact that President Biden is widely considered a shoo-in for the nomination.
The Race to Find Support
The representative from Minnesota has struggled to garner the support he needs to pose any real threat to Biden’s campaign.
“I Had to Announce Layoffs to a Lot of My Staff”
“I found it almost impossible to raise enough to do this campaign the way I want,” Phillips said in a video update. “And today, sadly, I had to announce layoffs to a lot of my staff members.”
“It Was a Really Tough Day for All of Us”
The affected staffers were “amazing people who gave up a lot personally and a lot professionally to join this remarkable campaign,” Phillips continued. “It was a really tough day for all of us.”
No White Flag for the Democratic Hopeful
Still, Phillips is not ready to throw in the towel. He says he plans to stick it out as long as he can and beseeched his supporters to consider financial donations to keep his campaign alive.
Running on His Youth
Phillips’ campaign is, in large part, based on the fact that he feels President Biden has reached an age where he is no longer suitable for leadership.
He has maintained that he believes Biden to be a good man, but his concerns about the president’s cognitive capabilities are a sticking point.
“People Have Lost Faith In” Biden and Trump, says Phillips
“Seventy-seven percent of the country wants to move on from this chapter,” Phillips said, referencing America’s aging leadership.
“We have two presidents – a former president, the current president, that frankly, people have lost faith in.”
Should Biden Step Aside for the Younger Candidate?
Phillips has commented on what he calls Biden’s “decline,” suggesting that the president should “do what’s best for the country” and step aside to endorse a younger candidate.
“I Think It’s Sad”
“Anybody who has their eyes open can see what’s going on,” Phillips said. “I think it’s a shame. I think it’s embarrassing. And I think it’s sad.”
Slow from the Start
Phillips’ campaign has struggled to get off the ground since he announced his candidacy last October. In states that have already held primary elections, Phillips trails behind Biden.
Phillips Loses to Biden Even When He’s Not on the Ballot
Even in New Hampshire, where Biden was not on the ballot due to not filing in the state on time, Phillips only won over 20% of voters. 64% of New Hampshire Democrats chose to write in a vote for Biden.
The Candidates Who Remain
Phillips and Biden are the last remaining candidates in the Democratic primaries after Marianne Williamson recently suspended her campaign, leaving the two men to go fight for the nomination.
Biden and Trump Expected to Be the Nominees
Much of the country anticipates that Biden will win the Democratic nomination and go head to head with former president Donald Trump in the general election in a rematch of 2020.
Polls are divided on whether the results would be the same or if Trump has a chance at winning.
Candidates Still Hope for a Boost
But that hasn’t stopped other candidates from throwing their hats in the ring, hoping to draw voters away from Trump and Biden.
Nikki Haley, running against Trump in the Republican primaries, has steadily risen in the polls but still falls well behind the former president’s numbers.
Campaign Finances Indicate Longevity
Financial troubles are a strong predictor for a political campaign’s demise, as has been seen recently with candidates like Mike Pence.
Pence’s fundraising efforts fell flat from the start, mostly because his targeted base was still loyal to Trump.
Will Phillips Drop Out or Fizzle Out?
The likelihood of Phillips dropping out before the primaries end is high, given his inability to motivate his supporters to sufficiently fund his campaign.
The vast majority of the money that Phillips has used to run has come from his own personal assets.
Phillips Plans to Stay in the Race
As for what’s next, Phillips says he has no intentions of shutting down his campaign yet after cutting staff.
“I’m Not Giving Up”
“I made a promise to them and I’m gonna make it to you,” Phillips said in his video to supporters. “I’m not giving up. I’m gonna continue.”
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The post Dean Phillips’ Presidential Campaign in Turmoil: Vows “Not Giving Up” Despite Staff Layoffs first appeared on From Frugal to Free.
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