COLUMBIA, S.C. – Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips , who is challenging President Joe Biden’s bid for a second term, has folded up his tent in South Carolina’s Democratic primary. Phillips’ name is on Saturday’s ballot, but he’s been mostly absent from the state. His long-term strategy has switched to the Michigan primary in 3-1/2 weeks, an aide said. Phillips has made no advertising purchases in the 10 South Caroline television markets. It appears the most he has spent in South Caroline was the $20,000 filing fee many weeks to be on the ballot. Phillips, however, was at a major fundraising party last weekend, where he admitted to donors he had come to realize that the state was Biden’s to win.
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Dean. Presidential aspirant to South Carolina Democrats: Not me, not this time.
Verbatim
Phillips, at South Carolina Democrats’ First in the Nation Celebration Dinner: “Some of you might be wondering why this white Jewish boy from the frozen tundra of Minnesota would be appearing in a state in which 95% of you will be voting for Joe Biden, including most of you in this room. Yeah, I think that’s probably fair to say.”