The cruelest cut for President Joe Biden came at the hands of California Democrats who were the driving force behind his decision to abandon his reelection bid, relentlessly applying pressure to pass the torch to someone they believe could beat former President Donald Trump in November.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was widely seen as one of the grandees working behind the curtain to oust Biden, while her protege, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), was one of the most prominent Democrats to call on Biden to withdraw.
By midday Monday, Pelosi and Schiff, dubbed the “California Mafia,” had endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, another California Democrat, for the top of the ticket.
‘Fingerprints are all over the knife’
House Democrats who had concerns about Biden’s ability to win looked to Pelosi to deliver the kill shot to the president’s sagging reelection campaign following a disastrous debate performance.
Not only is the Capitol Hill veteran respected by colleagues in both parties, Pelosi’s steely, no-nonsense attitude was the jolt some believed Biden needed to pull out of the race.