COLUMBUS, Ohio — It may be the most obvious sign yet that Minnesota Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips is officially running for president in 2024.
Literal signs, in fact, on the sides and back of a bus, spotted by Minnesotans traveling through Ohio on Tuesday.
Images of the bus, sent to KARE 11 by Amy Waller, show "Dean Phillips for President" with the tagline "Make America Affordable Again" along with Phillips' previous Congressional campaign slogan of "Everyone's Invited." The bus also includes a web address to dean24.com, which is a registered but currently inactive website. Waller also posted video of the bus to her Instagram story.
Phillips has not formally confirmed his candidacy; when contacted by KARE 11's Jana Shortal about the photos, Phillips responded by simply stating, "That's a great looking bus."
Phillips has been outspoken in his belief that incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden should not run for re-election next year, citing the president's advancing age. He first made headlines about a potential challenge to Biden in July; then, speculation surrounding a Phillips candidacy was renewed earlier this month after he stepped down from a leadership role as co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Caucus (DPCC).
Sources close to Phillips have told KARE 11's Jana Shortal that the two-term Minnesota congressman is 99% likely to run.
Phillips faces a Friday deadline to register to appear on the primary ballot in New Hampshire. However, if he does choose to enter the Granite State's race, he likely would not face Biden on the ballot. POLITICO and other outlets have reported that Biden is expected to skip New Hampshire amid changes to the Democratic National Committee's nominating calendar for 2024 that places South Carolina's primary first on Feb. 3.
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