The New York Times is reporting that Rep. Adam Schiff, the top House Democrat and fierce critic of former President Trump, has privately told Democratic donors that he believes Democrats could suffer big losses in November if President Biden remains in the top position.
Schiff, a former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and now running for Senate in California, reportedly made the comments on Saturday at a fundraiser in East Hampton, New York, just hours before the assassination attempt on former President Trump.
“If he gets the nomination, I think we’re going to lose,” the Post reported, citing a person with access to a transcript of the fundraiser recording. “And we’re going to lose the Senate and very likely lose our chance to take back the House.”
Asked by Fox News about the report, Schiff declined to comment.
Rep. Schiff expresses doubts about Biden being able to beat Trump: ‘The debate rightly raised doubts’
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said on “Meet the Press” earlier this month that President Biden’s debate performance called into question his ability to run for reelection. (Screenshot/NBC News)
of The New York Times also reported this. Citing two people with direct knowledge of Schiff’s remarks, the paper said Biden and his campaign staff generally are reluctant to listen to outside pollsters or political experts, but that they should.
One donor who attended the event told the paper that he left feeling disappointed and that he believed Biden’s chances of winning were low and that donors should now focus on supporting lesser candidates.
House Democrats circulate letter urging Biden to postpone nomination until convention: Report
President Biden will share the podium with former President Trump at the presidential debate on June 27th. (Kevin D. Lyles for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Biden had been under pressure to drop out of the presidential race after his performance in the June 27 debate was panned, but Trump’s shooting last weekend eased that pressure.
Earlier this month, Schiff publicly acknowledged he had doubts about whether Biden could beat Trump in a head-to-head match.
Schiff told NBC News that Biden’s age is a major factor weighing on his chances in the presidential race and that he should seriously consider whether running is his best option.
Rep. Adam Schiff reportedly made the comments on Saturday, before former President Trump was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania. (Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images)
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“But 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 defeat Donald Trump,” Schiff said at the time.
Fox News’ Julia Johnson and Gabriel Hayes contributed to this report.
