In a surprising turn of events, Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, who was running as a longshot candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, has announced the suspension of his campaign. Phillips, who had campaigned vigorously in New Hampshire despite President Biden not being on the party's primary ballot due to a dispute, acknowledged the reality of the situation and endorsed Biden the day after Super Tuesday.

In a statement released on X, Phillips expressed his gratitude to those who supported his campaign and emphasized the importance of a responsive and diverse political system. He urged his supporters to mobilize, energize, and do everything possible to ensure that "a man of decency and integrity" remains in the White House.

Phillips had set Super Tuesday as his personal deadline to establish a viable campaign. Failing to gain momentum, he made the decision to wrap it up and throw his support behind the likely nominee, whether it be Biden or someone else.

Phillips, a native of Edna, Minnesota, entered public office in 2018 after defeating a Republican incumbent in Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District. He was reelected in both 2020 and 2022. Prior to his political career, Phillips was involved in his family business, Phillips Distilling, and also ran a gelato company called Talenti. His personal wealth allowed him to contribute $4 million towards his presidential campaign.

The disappointment for Phillips came with a loss in New Hampshire, followed by a distant third-place finish in South Carolina where he received fewer votes than both Biden and self-help author Marianne Williamson. Concerns among Democrats grew as they feared that Phillips' stronger showing would diminish confidence in Biden's reelection campaign.

Throughout his campaign, Phillips maintained his goal was to help the Democratic Party by giving them a fighting chance to prevent a second term for former President Trump. This objective was evident in a post he made on X last November, where he stated, "The goal is to maximize the odds of beating Trump."

With Phillips' exit from the race, all eyes are now on President Biden as he seeks to solidify his position for the upcoming election. Phillips' endorsement serves as a reminder of the importance of unity within the party and the collective effort to ensure that the Democratic candidate remains in the White House.