Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who is running a long-shot bid against President Biden for the White House, acknowledged Tuesday that other election choices may be more appealing than him to voters.
“Congratulations to Joe Biden, Uncommitted, Marianne Williamson, and Nikki Haley for demonstrating more appeal to Democratic Party loyalists than me,” Phillips posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
In a second post, he added “And, Jason Palmer.” Palmer, a largely unknown Democrat, emerged as the winner in American Samoa during Super Tuesday’s primary contests.
Phillips has yet to earn any delegates, according to election results from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ, even after more than a dozen states held contests on Super Tuesday.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) responded to Phillips’s post, saying he appreciates the Minnesota Democrat’s “self awareness.”
“Tonight’s the night you should drop out and support our nominee, @JoeBiden,” Newsom said in his reply.
Following his wins, Biden said voters sent a strong signal as the general election inches closer to a rematch between him and former President Trump.
“Today, millions of voters across the country made their voices heard — showing that they are ready to fight back against Donald Trump’s extreme plan to take us backwards,” Biden said in a statement Tuesday, as ballots were still being cast.
The incumbent also argued progress made under his administration would be lost if Trump were to return to the Oval Office.
“[Trump] is driven by grievance and grift, focused on his own revenge and retribution, not the American people,” Biden said. “He is determined to destroy our democracy, rip away fundamental freedoms like the ability for women to make their own health care decisions, and pass another round of billions of dollars in tax cuts for the wealthy — and he’ll do or say anything to put himself in power.”