Democratic presidential primary candidate Dean Phillips accuses Gavin Newsom of 'running a shadow campaign'

Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, who last month launched a self-admitted "long shot" bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, has claimed that California Gov. Gavin Newsom is "running a shadow campaign."

Phillips, who made the comment during an appearance on NewsNation, said that as president he would "have a bipartisan cabinet."

Newsom, who recently visited China and Israel, is slated to face off against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis later this month during a debate moderated by conservative commentator Sean Hannity. DeSantis is one of the Republican figures currently running in the GOP presidential primary. Newsom has been expressing support for President Joe Biden's re-election bid.

Earlier this month, NBC News reported that Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania had accused Newsom of running for president without announcing a bid. "There are two additional Democrats running for Pennsylvania, excuse me, running for president right now," Fetterman reportedly said. "One is a congressman from Minnesota, the other one is the governor of California, but only one has the guts to announce it."

Marianne Williamson is also running in the Democratic presidential primary.

Biden, who is already the oldest president in U.S. history, would be 86 by the end of a second term if he is re-elected in 2024.

"We will not earn peace at home or around the world with elderly leaders occupying positions of power from the West Bank to the West Wing. It's time for change, and we're going to bring it. Join the DeanTeam and help us build a bright future," Phillips has tweeted.

"If President Biden is the Democratic nominee, we face an unacceptable risk of Trump being back in the White House," Phillips has claimed. "Biden/Harris isn't viable against Trump," the congressman has averred.

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