In a surprising turn of events, U.S. Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota has announced the end of his long-shot 2024 Democratic presidential campaign after failing to secure a primary victory against President Joe Biden. Phillips made the announcement during an interview with WCCO Radio in Minneapolis, where he also expressed his full endorsement of Biden as the Democratic candidate in the upcoming fall election, stating that "there is only one choice" in a matchup against Republican Donald Trump.

Throughout his campaign, Phillips, a 55-year-old multimillionaire and one of the richest members of Congress, centered his platform around the idea of a new generation of Democratic leadership, generously funding his own bid using personal wealth. However, despite his efforts, the little-known congressman failed to resonate with the party's voters, ultimately leading to his withdrawal from the race.

Phillips' failed bid against Biden further solidifies the support the Democratic base has for the current president, regardless of any misgivings some may have regarding his age or reelection prospects. President Biden himself has consistently presented himself as uniquely qualified to defeat Trump once again, largely ignoring Phillips throughout his reelection campaign except to highlight the congressman's near-perfect alignment with the administration's policies.

During his campaign, Phillips frequently criticized Biden's age and expressed doubt about his ability to serve a second term. However, in a social media post on Wednesday, Phillips acknowledged Biden's past visit to his home while he was vice president, commending his "decency and wisdom" as rare qualities in politics then and now. The congressman emphasized Biden's competency, decency, and integrity, stating that the alternative, Donald Trump, is a "very dangerous, dangerous man."

By endorsing Biden, Phillips effectively ruled out any possibility of a third-party challenge on a potential No Labels ticket. However, he expressed his hope that Nikki Haley, the last major rival to Trump on the Republican side, who suspended her campaign on the same day, would consider an independent run. Phillips believes that Haley's candidacy would draw votes away from Trump, thereby strengthening Biden's chances of reelection, as opposed to other independent candidates who could potentially split the Biden vote and benefit Trump.

Phillips' campaign strategy heavily focused on a strong performance in New Hampshire, where he sought to capitalize on the frustration among state Democrats over the Democratic National Committee's new plan to reorder the party's 2024 primary calendar, championed by Biden. However, despite his efforts, Phillips finished a distant second in the state's unsanctioned primary, losing to a write-in campaign where Democrats voted for Biden despite his name not appearing on the ballot.

Following his defeat in New Hampshire, Phillips continued to South Carolina for the primary's formal start. However, the DNC did not schedule any primary debates, and several state Democratic parties, including North Carolina and Florida, decided not to hold primaries, making it increasingly challenging for Phillips to challenge the sitting president. He ultimately lost in South Carolina and every other state where he competed.

In his suburban Minneapolis congressional district, although Phillips was already an elected Democrat, hardly any voters mentioned his presidential campaign leading up to Minnesota's primary on Super Tuesday. Most constituents expressed their support for Biden as the best chance to defeat Trump in November. Phillips, who finished a distant third in the Minnesota primary, capturing only about 8% of the vote compared to Biden's 71%, has since announced that he will not seek reelection in his district.

Phillips has a diverse background, being the heir to his stepfather's Phillips Distilling Co. empire and having served as the president of the company. Additionally, he has experience running the gelato maker Talenti. It is worth noting that his grandmother was Pauline Phillips, known as the well-known advice columnist Dear Abby.

While Phillips had initially positioned himself as a moderate focused on appealing to his suburban constituents, his presidential campaign saw him moving further to the left, endorsing fully government-funded healthcare through "Medicare for All."

With Phillips out of the race, all eyes are now firmly fixed on President Joe Biden as the Democratic candidate for the 2024 presidential election. The congressman's endorsement, while an acknowledgment of Biden's age, underscores the urgency of defeating Trump, whom Phillips deems a dangerous figure in American politics.