If Democratic U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips intends to mount a serious primary challenge against President Joe Biden, he must decide soon.
Phillips missed a Monday deadline to file as a candidate for the Nevada presidential preference primary election, meaning he won't be on the ballot in that early-voting state if he chooses to run. The Minnesota Democrat has blown past his self-imposed September time frame to decide whether to challenge Biden. His reluctance to make a decision so far has now put him at a disadvantage in a potential contest against Biden.
"What that indicates is that he is not serious about becoming the nominee, but if he does run, he wants to send a message to the party," Carleton College political science Prof. Steven Schier said of Phillips missing the Nevada deadline.
More primary election filing deadlines are approaching, including in the closely watched state of New Hampshire on Oct. 27.
Asked about Phillips potentially running a primary against Biden, New Hampshire Democratic U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster told the Star Tribune, "I think it's the best thing Donald Trump could ever ask for."
"There's no path. There's no outcry," Kuster said. "Personally, I think it's a vanity project by Mr. Phillips, and I think it could do serious damage by emboldening the Trump Republicans."
In a text message to the Star Tribune, Phillips acknowledged that he did not file for Nevada's primary but declined to elaborate further. He did not comment on recent criticism about a possible Democratic presidential primary run.
Phillips, in his third term in the U.S. House, came into this year with the potential of a bright political future. After ousting an incumbent Republican in the 2018 midterms, Phillips easily won re-election in his last two contests. He then won a spot in House Democratic leadership for the current Congress.