Rep. Adam Schiff speaks to media after casting his vote at the McCambridge Recreation Center in Burbank, California, Tuesday, March 5, 2024. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) became the latest Democrat to break away from his party and publicly express concern about Biden’s ability to beat Donald Trump.
Schiff, the front-runner to become California’s next U.S. senator, expressed concerns about Biden’s age and how his candidacy could hurt Democrats vying for battleground House and Senate seats in a recent interview with MSNBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“I think his performance on the debate stage has rightly raised questions among the American people about whether the president has what it takes to beat Donald Trump,” Schiff said, adding that Biden should “crush Donald Trump” given his impressive record in office.
“Joe Biden is running against criminals,” he said. “It shouldn’t be a close race, and the only reason it’s close is because of the age of the president.”
Schiff said the time is right for the president to make a key decision about whether to leave office, and noted that weakness at the top of the ticket could hurt Democrats at the bottom.
“There’s a limit to how far you can get ahead of the president,” he said, adding that Biden must consider “the profound implications that this decision, perhaps the most important of his presidency, will have on the future of the House, the Senate and the country.”
Daniel Jubelirer, a campaign strategist who helps Democrats in battleground states through the group Contest Every Race, said he was warning candidates not to get too close to Biden.
“The debate was tough to watch, and I think it shows the importance of not just winning local elections with the president’s endorsement, but running a strong local campaign that can connect with voters on issues that matter to your community,” he said.
A clear message about how candidates will tackle everyday issues like local jobs, food and housing costs and access to health care will likely play a bigger role in determining the outcome of local elections than who comes out on top, he said.
Still, Schiff isn’t the only one concerned about how Biden’s age will affect the election.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) told MSNBC in an interview last week that concerns about Biden’s mental health were “legitimate questions.” Pelosi said both Biden and Trump should undergo mental fitness evaluations.
Meanwhile, California’s most prominent Democrats, Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Gavin Newsom, have remained staunch supporters of Biden’s campaign even as they emerge as possible candidates to replace him. Newsom spent the holiday weekend campaigning in Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, while Harris did the same in San Francisco and New Orleans.
Veteran Democratic strategist Michael Trujillo said none of these politicians’ stances were surprising.
He explained that Pelosi and Schiff should win their seats safely and that they are most concerned about whether Democrats have a majority or minority in Congress.
“They both love Joe Biden, obviously, but their motivation is to win the House and the Senate,” he said. “The top candidate can be a real anchor, but if the top candidate falls, it’s not good for the lower-ranking candidates.”
Newsom and other governors considering presidential bids, including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, are biding their time until the next election cycle, Trujillo said, and risk losing support within their parties to run in 2028 if they defect now.
On the other hand, Harris has a clear role to play as vice president.
“Kamala is in a position where she has to be a loyal and good vice president, and that’s what the vice president has historically been,” Trujillo said. “So VP Kamala Harris is doing the right thing. She’s making the same talking points that the White House has been promoting, she’s following instructions and she’s refraining from speaking out.”
Speaking at a recent fundraiser in Brentwood, Harris acknowledged the debate wasn’t the president’s “greatest moment” but said it didn’t change the stakes of the election in any way.
In an open letter to lawmakers on Monday, Biden reiterated his commitment to continuing the campaign.
In his letter, Biden said he understands people’s concerns and has consulted closely with party leadership, Democrats and voters over the past 10 days.
“I can answer all of this clearly and without question: If I didn’t absolutely believe I was the best person to defeat Donald Trump in 2024, I would not be running again,” he said.
He urged people to move on from the presidential debates and focus on winning the election.
“Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the agenda ahead will only help Trump and hurt us,” he said. “Now is the time to come together, move forward as a party and defeat Donald Trump.”
