California cronyism saw a “pencil-necked” congressman aspire to a surrogate candidate for President Joe Biden who he believed would “overwhelmingly” beat former President Donald Trump.
Speaking out of both sides of one's mouth may be a job requirement for Democrats, but as suggestions to oust Biden intensified as his candidate intensified, so did his musings on unity . On “Meet the Press” Sunday, NBC News host Kristen Welker got this response from California Rep. Adam Schiff (D) when asked about the chances of Vice President Kamala Harris leading the ticket.
“Do you think she's a stronger candidate to take on Donald Trump?” the host posed after repeatedly questioning the lawmaker about Biden's longevity as a candidate in the wake of his debate disaster.
In response, Schiff attempted, “I think the vice president would be a phenomenal president. I think he has the experience, the judgment, and the leadership ability to be an extraordinary president.”
With the poll as a consideration, Welker pressed, “Could I win in a landslide, Congressman?”
“I think he very well could win in a landslide. But before he makes a decision about who else it should be,” he said, “the president has to make a decision about whether it's him.”
I WILL SEE: @RepAdamSchiff (D-Calif.) says Vice President Kamala Harris would make a “phenomenal” president and could “win in a landslide.”
“Before making a decision about who else it should be, the president has to make a decision about whether it's him.” pic.twitter.com/VAyYsRpxNY
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) July 7, 2024
The brazen plug from the congressman, whose adherence to Russian collusion narratives and the fake Jan. 6 committee hearing had kept his “changer” moniker alive, came as throughout the conversation he seemed determined to avoid badmouthing Biden while encouraging the president to step aside.
“Given Biden's incredible record and given Trump's terrible record, he should be rubbing shoulders with Donald Trump,” argued Schiff, who claimed, “It shouldn't even be close, and there's only one reason it's close and that's the president's age.”
As for Biden's damage control, sitting down with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, the lawmaker admitted, “The interview didn't put an end to the concerns. There's no single interview that's going to do that. And what I think What the president has to decide is, can he put those concerns aside? Can he show the American people that what happened on the debate stage was an aberration, that he can and will beat Donald Trump?
Schiff also tried to deflect from the glaring cognitive issues emphasized by Biden's debate performance by arguing that the two presumptive candidates should test their mental faculties.
“I think, frankly, that a test would show that Donald Trump has a serious illness of one kind or another. But ultimately the decision will come down to who is the best Joe Biden, and if his decision is to run, run strong and beat the SOB. And if his decision is to pass the torch,” he added lending credence to the possibility, “then the president should do everything in his power to make that other candidate succeed.”
Per Welker's point above, if polling remained the primary determinant of who Democrats would choose to join should Biden step aside, the odds were not in favor of the vice president being selected in the top of the ticket as recent polls showed he was getting it. overthrown for Trump
As it happened, post-debate polls showed former first lady Michelle Obama had it best chance to hold the White House for the Democrats with the caveat that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had not been considered.
Before the end of the interview, Schiff reinforced the reports that those of Biden inner circle guided his decision, namely that first lady Jill Biden keep the candidacy alive, as he suggested: “I think Joe Biden should take his time, talk to people outside his immediate circle, talk to people that respects, people with objectivity, people with distance, and make the right decision for the country.”
“And I'm sure that Joe Biden has always made the decision in the best interest of the country. It's the fundamental distinction between him and Donald Trump,” added the Democrat with another parting shot.
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