Schiff says Biden has to ‘win overwhelmingly’ or pass the torch, notes VP Harris could win against Trump

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., on Sunday said Vice President Kamala Harris could “overwhelmingly” win against former President Donald Trump but that President Joe Biden must decide whether he will remain in the race as the Democratic Party’s nominee amid backlash over his disastrous debate performance.

Asked about polling that showed Harris outperforming Trump if she replaced Biden, Schiff said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that he thought she would be a “phenomenal president.”

“I think she has the experience, the judgment, the leadership ability to be an extraordinary president,” Schiff told moderator Kristen Welker.

Asked if Biden could overwhelmingly win the election, Schiff said “Either he has to win overwhelmingly or he has to pass the torch to someone who can.” Pressed again by Welker on whether Harris could win “overwhelmingly” against Trump, Schiff said he thought “she very well could win overwhelmingly.”

“Before we get into a decision about who else it should be, the president needs to make a decision whether it’s him,” he said.

Asked whether Biden should drop out and pass the torch to Harris, Schiff again argued that it’s up to Biden to make that call.

“I think Biden should take the time talk to people outside of his immediate circle, talk to people he respects, people with objectivity, people with distance, and make the right decision for the country,” he said. “And I’m confident Joe Biden has always made the fundamental distinguishing distinction between he and Donald Trump.”

Schiff also raised concerns about the president’s standing against Trump in the general election, noting the president’s age.

“Given Biden’s incredible record and given Trump’s terrible record he should be mopping the floor with Donald