Democrat Dean Phillips could challenge Joe Biden as he suggests the president's age could be a 'disaster'

Dean Phillips said he is «thinking» about running against Biden to give Democrats an alternative candidate. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ- Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

The Democratic congressman said he is considering running against Joe Biden for the party's nomination because the US president is «suffering from something he can't change» «.

In a coded hint of concern about Biden's age, Dean Phillips said «something could happen between now and November next year» that could make the next election a «total disaster» for Democrats.

< p>The Minnesota representative said he was «thinking» about running against Biden, 80, to give the party an alternative candidate.

Recent polls show three-quarters of Americans are concerned about the president's age after a series of gaffes. including the words at the press conference: “I’m going to bed.”

Mr Phillips suggested he would do so in July. was considering a presidential run but appears to have decided instead to back another candidate to run against Biden.

On Monday, he said he was again considering challenging the president in the Democratic primary party.

“What Biden is unfortunately suffering from right now is something he can’t change,” he said on the “Warning with Steve Schmidt” podcast.

< p>«He has some very remarkable wisdom in him, and I'm honored, but I also know what the country is asking for, and how can you ignore the numbers you see in a country that prides itself on being a representative democracy?»

He added, that he is “concerned that there is no alternative” and that “something could happen between now and November of next year that will turn the Democratic National Convention in Chicago into a real disaster.”

As a direct question, there will be whether he should run, Mr. Phillips replied: “I'm thinking about it. And I don’t rule it out.”

Polls show three-quarters of Americans are concerned about Joe Biden' age after a series of missteps. Photo: Leah Millis/Reuters

Despite widespread concerns about Biden's age and health, Democrats have largely avoided comment on the issue, trying to avoid further attacks from Republicans.

Mr Biden was the oldest person to be elected president when he began his first term. in 2020 and will be 86 if he completes his second term.

In a rare interview in May, he addressed his age directly and said he «knows more than the vast majority of people.»

Aides say the president is privately a hard worker and outperforms younger staffers in late-night meetings.

But he has also made a series of public gaffes in recent months that have fueled fears that he too old to continue working in the White House at the end of next year.

At the UN summit last week, he appeared to forget to shake hands with the Brazilian president at a press conference, and repeated the same anecdote several times apart minutes.

Two days later, he falsely claimed to have been at the scene of “every mass shooting.”

He also mentioned the Grand Canyon being named one of the “nine” wonders of the world, and talking about crimes involving firearms ended with the words: “God save the Queen.”