Why Dean Phillips' primary challenge against Biden failed

Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota dropped his long-shot Democratic primary bid against President Joe Biden Wednesday, ending a run that centered on a call for generational change and concern about losing the White House to Donald Trump. 

Phillips at first staked his presidential campaign on a strong showing in New Hampshire's Democratic primary, which operated as an unsanctioned party contest where Mr. Biden wasn't even on the ballot because of the new primary calendar instituted by the president and national Democratic leaders. New England Democrats mounted a determined write-in effort for Mr. Biden, hoping to avoid an embarrassing loss. Phillips and author Marianne Williamson were also on the New Hampshire ballot.

Phillips' campaign struggled to gain traction, even though Mr. Biden wasn't on the ballot in New Hampshire, where Phillips spent most of his time campaigning.