Dean Phillips floats being running mate for Haley on a possible 'unity ticket'

WASHINGTON — Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., said Thursday that he was open to a “unity ticket” with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

When asked on Minneapolis’s News Talk 830 WCCO whether Phillips would vote for Haley over Biden if she became the Republican nominee, he responded, "Wouldn’t all your listeners be more compelled by maybe Nikki Haley and Dean Phillips getting together on a unity ticket and actually doing for the first time, perhaps in our country’s history, what most Americans really want, which is cooperation, collaboration, participation, decency, common sense, leadership?"

"I’m gonna turn the question that way because there’s no way Nikki Haley will become the nominee in the GOP, and the fact of the matter is right now the Democratic Party doesn’t want competition and seems to want to coronate Joe Biden," said Phillips.

Phillips launched his bid against Biden in October last year, though he has been unable to gain traction among voters. He placed second in the New Hampshire primary, gaining 19.7% of the votes to Biden’s 63.9%, and he placed third in the South Carolina primary, gaining 1.7% of the votes to Biden’s 96.2%.

Haley's also been unable to overtake former President Donald Trump, losing the New Hampshire primary, Iowa Caucus and Virgin Islands Caucus to him.

Asked whether he would run as Haley’s vice president if she ran as an Independent candidate, Phillips said, “I think it’s a conversation that Ambassador Haley and I should have, if that’s what this comes down to.”

“In the event of a Donald Trump victory this November, which is almost certain if Joe Biden is the nominee, I think any American who opposes that should celebrate, encourage and inspire an alternative that can actually win and lead our country in the way that people want, and I think anybody, including myself, should keep open minds and hearts about that,” he said.

Phillips added that, “I think America could be very well served by some type of a bipartisan ticket that restores faith in government and most importantly, demonstrates to the world — to the world — that America can work together and restore its extraordinary brand around the entire world.”

In response to Phillips’ comments, Haley campaign manager Betsy Ankney said “Nikki Haley is a strong and proud Republican, and that's what we're focused on − winning the Republican nomination."

Contributing: Francesca Chambers

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rep. Dean Phillips proposes 'unity ticket' with Nikki Haley