Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), a Russia collusion hoaxer, is apparently making moves on his widely reported ambition to replace Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as Speaker of the House if she retires and Democrats are successful in keeping control of the House.
Schiff has plans to visit 10 districts this summer, in what Jake Sherman of Punchbowl News reports is “an attempt to feel Dems out about his leadership ambitions and keep seats in the party’s hands.”
Sherman adds that “SCHIFF has been having conversation [with Democrats] of late about what the next generation of Dem leaders should look like. [H]e believes he has a path to the top job — if and when PELOSI steps down.”
The Los Angeles Times first reported in 2018 that Pelosi was “grooming potential successors, among them Rep. Adam Schiff.”
But as was also reported by Sherman, Schiff’s ambitions may actually be hampered by the fact that he is a “white man in a caucus where the majority is made up of women and people of color.”
“Schiff faces a serious challenge in convincing his colleagues that he’s the party’s future,” Sherman declared.
After Schiff raised his profile in the national media by claiming there was substantial “evidence” that the former President Donald Trump was colluding with Russia, he became the focus of widespread mockery amongst Republicans, including Trump himself, who referred to him as a “little pencil neck” and more recently, a “watermelon head.” He was set up by Russian comedians who offered him naked photos of Trump.
Schiff was verbally criticized on national television by the previous Trump administration spokeswoman, Morgan Ortagus, who confronted him on ABC’s “The View” in November over his allegations of collusion with Russia.
“You defended, promoted and even read into the congressional record the Steele dossier. We know last week the main source of the dossier was indicted by the FBI for lying about most of the key claims in that dossier. Do you have any reflections on your role in promoting this to the American people?” Ortagus asked Schiff straight out, before informing him that his credibility had been damaged.
Moreover, the House Democratic Caucus Chairman, Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), is the overwhelming favorite to be Pelosi’s successor. There are also other candidates, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC).
When Schiff was asked by Punchbowl News about his planned tour, he replied, “I keep my conversations with my colleagues private.”