U.S. Representative Dean Phillips (D- MN) is endorsing some new policies ahead of the Presidential primaries, in a rare challenge of an incumbent president.
While Phillips has long been known as a moderate, he has recently endorsed some progressive leaning policies.
Phillips told WCCO's Chad Hartman his bid for President has opened his eyes to some immediate needs for the country that he would tackle right away.
"Seven million housing unit initiative on day one, and medicine and health care," Phillips explains would be priorities. "We need a national health insurance program to cover every single American. Another initiative is education. We should not be a nation that burdens young people and their families with $1.7 trillion in debt."
Phillips added that mental health care would be part of his proposed plan for universal healthcare.
Then there is the challenge of taking on President Joe Biden who has the full support of the Democratic Party. Although Biden won't be appearing on the ballot in New Hampshire there are other ways he's still drumming up some competition there..
"But what the Democratic Party doesn't want you to know is that there is a massive write in campaign for Joe Biden right now," Phillips claims. "There's a Super PAC trying to promote his candidacy as a write-in. And then there's another super PAC set up to get Democratic-leaning independents in New Hampshire to vote for (Republican) Nikki Haley."
Despite this, with just three weeks until votes are cast, Phillips says he's more optimistic than ever about his campaign.
Phillips said the Democratic Party is trying to "bleed my campaign to death" and says he has seen too much corruption since announcing his run for the presidency. He has already announced he will not be seeking re-election in Minnesota's Third District.
The New Hampshire Primary will be the first in the nation on January 23. The Democratic Party tried to overhaul the nominating calendar and make South Carolina, with more diversity, the first state to host a primary which is why Biden is skipping New Hampshire. Phillips told WCCO he would be "thrilled" to reach 25% in New Hampshire and continue to gain name recognition around the country.