Dem ex-Biden challenger Dean Phillips rips Kamala Harris for heavy focus on Trump: Losing voters
The Dem rep who mounted a rare longshot primary challenge against President Biden over deep concerns about his age is warning Veep Kamala Harris to change her message in the election’s waning days.Congressman Dean Phillips of Minnesota, 55, urged Harris, 60, to reconsider her sharp focus against GOP foe and former President Donald Trump, 78, in her final arguments as Nov.5 nears and to recalibrate toward a more inviting message to voters.
“A billion dollars will have been wasted on losing voters by condemnation versus winning them by invitation,” Phillips lamented on X.“She just needed to be clear about what she believes, what she will do differently than Biden, and offer common sense solutions to our problems.
Instead….,” he added, pointing to a headline from the New York Times — “Starring in Kamala Harris’s Closing Argument: Donald Trump.”Phillips gave up his leadership post as the co-chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee to challenge Biden in the 2024 Democratic primary out of concern that his party was barreling toward an electoral defeat with the 81-year-old faltering president at the top of the ticket.Ultimately, the Minnesota Democrat was unsuccessful in the primary but was seemingly vindicated in July when a revolt within his party ensued against Biden over consternation about his age and culminated in him bowing out of the race.
Phillips cheered when Harris soared to the top of the ticket but still publicly pushed the party to have more of an open process to fill Biden’s shoes.Now his home-state Democratic governor, Tim Walz, is on the ticket with Harris as her vice-presidential pick.
Since locking down the nomination, Harris has attempted to make some overtures to Republican and Independent voters.She pledged to appoint a Republican to her Cabinet, and she has stumped with GOP turncoats such as former Rep.
Liz Cheney of Wyoming in recent weeks.Morning Report and Evening Update: Your source for t...