Dean Phillips responds to blowback from Harris remarks

Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Dean Phillips (Minn.) attempted Tuesday to clarify his recent remarks about Vice President Harris, claiming he was simply recounting what others have told him rather than voicing his own opinion.

Phillips received blowback for comments he made to The Atlantic in which he said he has been told by others that Harris is not right for the job of being president.

“I hear from others who know her a lot better than I do that many think she’s not well positioned,” Phillips said of Harris. “She is not well prepared, doesn’t have the right disposition and the right competencies to execute that office.”

He later added that in his personal experience, he has “not seen those deficiencies” and that he’s enjoyed his interactions with Harris.

Asked Tuesday if he agrees with that sentiment on “CNN NewsNight,” Phillips said, “No, in fact what I said in that report, I hope you just articulated, is that that’s what people have told me.”

CNN anchor Abby Phillip then asked the Minnesota Democrat why he would repeat what others have said if he has firsthand experience with the vice president.

“I did not articulate that distinctly. That was asked of me. Others have said that to the reporter in question,” Phillips responded. “What I’ve said is when I’ve been around her, I’ve been impressed. She’s been kind; she’s been thoughtful and decent.”

“But what I’m trying to explain to Americans, whether it’s relative to the president’s age or the standing of Vice President Harris amongst Americans, if Democrats wish to beat Donald Trump … this is not about protecting people, it’s about protecting the principle of democracy,” Phillips continued, adding the Biden-Harris administration approval ratings show Americans “do not want this ticket” in 2024.

Phillips went on to say he does “not recall saying those words.”

“I recall those words being shared with me and saying that’s what people have been saying,” Phillips said. “… I am defending the vice president because I think she’s a good person; I think she is well-prepared, but I’m telling you the country has a different opinion, and that’s exactly what I said there.”

He added that he believes President Biden is also a “good person” but that the country does not want him as the next president.

Pressed on whether he is implying he doesn’t think Harris should be a successor to Biden, Phillips responded, “No, you know what I’m saying actually and what I’ve said directly to many and would actually say to her if she was right next to me — run. The water [is] warm, we live in democracy.”

While he said he has not directly asked Harris to run for president, Phillips said he did make calls to “certain candidates” who would not jump in the 2024 race.

Phillips launched a longshot presidential bid challenging Biden last month, claiming he is is “not running in opposition” to the president, but rather to encourage passing the torch to a new generation of leaders. He has repeatedly pointed to Biden’s low approval numbers and advanced age, which is 81 as of this week.

Polling so far has shown low support for Phillips, who was not a well known member of Congress before launching a White House bid. A Yahoo News/YouGov poll released last week showed that while more than half of Democrats want to see another Democrat challenge Biden, the incumbent still maintained a comfortable lead with 64 percent saying they would back him. Phillips and author Marianne Williamson — Biden’s only Democratic challengers — each received only 4 percent of support.