Representative Adam Schiff of California said that President Biden should end his campaign, restarting a drip of opposition within the Democratic Party that had paused after the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump over the weekend.
Mr. Biden “has been one of the most consequential presidents in our nation’s history, and his lifetime of service as a senator, a vice president and now as president has made our country better,” Mr. Schiff said in a statement to The Los Angeles Times. But, he said, “A second Trump presidency will undermine the very foundation of our democracy, and I have serious concerns about whether the president can defeat Donald Trump in November.”
Mr. Schiff had said over the weekend, in a private meeting with donors, that if Mr. Biden remained the party’s nominee, Democrats were likely to lose not only the White House but also down-ballot races. But his public statement on Wednesday was a significant escalation.
He emphasized that he would support the Democratic ticket, even if Mr. Biden stayed at the top, but said he believed it would be better for Mr. Biden to “pass the torch.”
A spokesman for Mr. Biden did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mr. Schiff’s statement brings the number of House Democrats who have called on Mr. Biden to end his campaign to at least 20. Others have said privately that he believe he should step aside.
The post Schiff Calls on Biden to Drop Out of Presidential Race appeared first on New York Times.
