MSNBC host Chris Matthews proposed the long shot notion of nominating Rep. Adam Schiff to represent the Democratic Party in the 2020 election contest against President Trump.

The California Democrat, who is chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and lead impeachment manager, is not running for the White House, but as Matthews noted, he could be picked in a brokered Democratic convention. After all, frustration with the nomination process is mounting after the Democratic Party botched its handling of the Iowa caucuses.

"What happens ... if somebody has 45% or 42%? It’s not close, and nobody else has that much. Does everybody else buckle to that, can you go to somebody who isn't running?" the host asked a panelist Tuesday.

"No, you can go to anyone," former New York Rep. Steve Israel said. "You can go Chris Matthews if they want to."

Matthews, 74, responded by asking if Schiff could be a possibility. "How about Adam Schiff?" he said. "Could they all agree, 'Let's give it to Schiff?'"

Israel said Democrats could give the nomination to anyone, including Schiff.

The likelihood of a contested convention remains low. No nominating convention has gone more than one ballot since Democrats gathered in Chicago and nominated Illinois Gov. Adlai Stevenson on the third round of voting in 1952.

