Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed recent controversies surrounding the Democratic ticket in a new interview, insisting she supported an “open process” for replacing President Joe Biden but noting that Vice President Kamala Harris “took advantage” of the opportunity to secure the nomination.
Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Pelosi clarified that many within the Democratic Party had expressed concerns about Biden’s re-election campaign, leading to an open process where any candidate could have stepped in.
However, after Biden withdrew from the race in July amid growing pressure from Democrats, he quickly endorsed Harris, who moved swiftly to secure the nomination.
Pelosi denied any involvement in forcing Biden to step down, but she admitted that she had been concerned about his campaign’s performance and relayed those concerns from other House Democrats to the White House.
These concerns reportedly centered around fears that Biden’s struggles could negatively impact other Democratic campaigns.
Despite Harris’s apparent reinvigoration of the party, her rapid ascent to the nomination without a primary vote has drawn criticism, especially from those who argue the process contradicts the party’s pro-democracy stance.
Addressing this, Pelosi emphasized that the process was open, and Harris merely took advantage of the opportunity presented to her.
“[Harris] had the endorsement of the president, and she, politically astutely, took advantage of it and shut down—not shut down, but won the nomination. But anybody else could have gotten in,” Pelosi stated.
Pelosi threw her support behind Harris shortly after Biden’s withdrawal and praised the vice president for her political acumen. She also commented on the altered nature of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), noting that it was different from what was initially envisioned but remained enthusiastically attended, giving credit to Biden for the decision.
When asked about Biden’s decision to step aside, Pelosi maintained that she had no regrets about her role, stating that her primary concern was the success of the Democratic campaign, not just Biden’s individual prospects.
Despite reports that Biden is unhappy with how he was treated by powerful Democrats, including Pelosi, she expressed no remorse.
“I had to do what I had to do. He made the decision for the country. My concern was not about the president, it was about his campaign,” Pelosi told CNN’s Jake Tapper earlier this week.
She added that the excitement and energy following Harris’s nomination have vindicated her concerns.
Pelosi is scheduled to address the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, where she is expected to continue rallying support for Harris and the Democratic ticket heading into the 2024 election.
