As the campaign for the 2020 presidential election continues to heat up, some members of the Democratic Party have begun to question Joe Biden’s electability. In response, supporters of Dean Phillips, a DFL candidate from the Eighth Congressional District in Minnesota, have launched a series of ads attacking Biden’s electability.
The ad campaign, which is running online and in the Minneapolis metropolitan area, accuses Biden of supporting “failing policies from the past” and making statements that “alienate voters.” It also emphasizes Phillips’ record as a centrist, highlighting his ability to appeal to both Democrat and Republican voters.
Phillips’ supporters argue that a centrist presidential candidate is the only viable option for Democrats in 2020. By nominating a candidate like Phillips, they say, the party can win back independent and centrist voters who have been fleeing to the Republican Party in recent years.
Phillips, who has been a vocal critic of Biden, believes that the former vice president is too closely associated with unpopular policies to beat President Trump. He recently said, “The old way of doing things doesn’t work anymore. We need someone who can unite the American people and bring them together.”
Moreover, Phillips and his supporters argue that Biden’s past record on social issues, specifically civil rights, is a major obstacle to his electability. They point out the controversial remarks Biden has made in the past, including a 1997 speech in which he declared that “children in poverty are just as bright and just as talented as white children.” Such comments, they argue, could turn away important voting blocs in 2020.
It remains to be seen whether the ads will be successful in eroding Biden’s standing in the Democratic Party. Although accusations of Biden’s lack of electability could hurt his chances in a general election, a victory in the Democratic primary is far from certain. Phillips and other moderate candidates could prove to be formidable rivals to the frontrunner. Either way, Phillips’ supporters have made it clear they won’t be going down without a fight.
