As for other first 100-day priorities, Phillips said he would also use “zero-based budgeting” and hire an international consulting firm to conduct a “top-down assessment” of the federal government.
Both Ackman and Calacanis said they were backing Phillips in his bid to challenge Biden, who Phillips has insisted cannot win in a 2024 face-off against former President Donald Trump. Ackman pledged $1 million to Phillips' super PAC. Meanwhile, Calacanis introduced Musk to Phillips during the call, referring to Phillips as an “entrepreneur” and “under 80.”
Much of the space discussion centered around Phillips' stance on border policy and the national debt. But all four speakers attacked the media and Democrats for various challenges to Phillips' candidacy, including disqualifying him from the primary ballot in Florida and North Carolina.
“Keeping a candidate, especially a strong candidate, off the ballot takes that decision away from the public and that is fundamentally anti-democratic,” Musk said. “Some political parties should not think they know better than the public.”
Phillips, who launched her presidential bid just three months ago, is beginning her campaign in New Hampshire, where she will not appear on the ballot after Biden gave his blessing to last year's plan to rearrange the presidential nominating calendar.
Phillips told POLITICO this weekend that getting into the 20% range in next week's New Hampshire primary “would be great.” Previously, campaign advisors had suggested 42% as the benchmark for success. Recent polls in the state have Phillips in the high single digits and teens.
“If we surprise that night, the game is on,” Phillips said of New Hampshire.