Prominent liberal TV talk show host Bill Maher has made accusations against several leading Democrats, suggesting they are running “shadow campaigns” for the 2024 election while not openly acknowledging their plans to challenge President Joe Biden.
Maher also commended Representative Dean Phillips (D-MN) for officially launching a primary challenge against Biden last week.
During an appearance on his HBO show on Friday night, Maher extended his appreciation to Phillips for entering the Democratic primary. He clarified to the candidate that it wasn’t necessarily an endorsement but expressed the possibility of endorsing him in the future.
“I endorsed the idea,” Maher said Friday.
“Because I did an editorial a couple of weeks ago calling [Biden] ‘Ruth Bader Biden.’
“And look, we both struggle with the same thing.
“We like Joe Biden, right? And we think he’s done a good job.
“Ruth Bader Ginsburg did a good job and did not know when to quit, and that’s why you’re here.”
“And it’s not like others are doing this in a — sort of a — shadow campaign,” Maher later said.
“I mean, Gavin Newsom, our governor, seems to be all over the world.”
“I saw that,” Phillips smirked.
“You know, they’re going to the battleground states in the private — they’re really doing it, but I feel like at least you are honest, and you’re saying, ‘No, I’m gonna do it.’ Just do it.”
Phillips has been vocal in urging other Democrats to join the primary race, emphasizing that there are already “21 of us on the ballot in New Hampshire.”
The congressman explained to Maher that becoming a candidate for president in the United States merely requires a $1,000 check and being a 35-year-old, U.S.-born citizen.
He also disclosed that he made efforts to recruit another strong contender, attempting to persuade Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to join the race.
He continued by claiming Whitmer would make “an outstanding president.”
“And she’s one of those who’s running a shadow campaign,” Maher interjected.
“Everybody’s waiting until 2028,” Phillips said.
“And I’m making the contention to all of you tonight that I’m not sure that we will have a 2028 election in the way that we expect to happen if the inevitable happens and it is President Biden against Donald Trump.
“I mean, the numbers are astounding everybody. If we don’t start to acknowledge that — there’s this bizarre and very dangerous culture of silence in Washington, in certain political-industrial complex circles, that is dangerous — I mean, dangerous.
“And we’re putting blinders on. It’ll make 2016 look like a joyful year.”
Maher continued by offering compliments to Newsom, who he said has to “move to the center,” and Vice President Kamala Harris, who has even worse polling numbers than Biden.
Phillips responded by reiterating “the more the merrier” as far as potential Biden challengers.
“It’s still not too late to jump into this race,” Phillips said.
“I wish we had more competition instead of a coordination.
“This is not that difficult, and I don’t understand why people are so hesitant to do what the country needs so desperately.
“I called candidates who I say are more proximate to the race.
“They wouldn’t take my call,” he said.
“They had their political people take the call.
“They asked me not to use their names.
“You know, when I say every – most of my colleagues talk about this every day in hushed tones in the hallways – it’s saying the quiet part out loud.”
Maher, who had long been a staunch supporter of Biden, has shown signs of doubt regarding the president’s prospects in the 2024 election. His concerns were brought up during his “Club Random” conversation with Democratic strategist James Carville, a former key advisor to Bill Clinton, who is raising concerns based on recent poll data.
“I think we’re on the same page with Biden,” Maher said.
“Did a great service, but whereas in 2020, maybe he was the only one who could have beaten Trump, I think now he’s the only one who will lose to him.”
“He did great not just because he beat Trump, but, you know, a lot of stuff he did — Afghanistan, Ukraine he handled right, everybody else’s economy was worse than ours after the pandemic.
“These are some pretty big things,” he continued.
“But he will lose because at some point, perception becomes reality.
“And look, do I think he can do the job? Absolutely.
“Government, as you well know better than anybody, is done in small rooms like the Oval Office, where people are talking quietly and decisions are made.
“I think he still can do that fine. He cannot run for president.
“He’ll look bad in the debates… I think, going to lose.”
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