Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi maintains that she sought an open process to replace President Biden in the 2024 election, but Vice President Kamala Harris "took advantage" of the opportunity to secure the nomination.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has defended her actions leading up to President Biden's decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, insisting that she wanted an open process to replace him but that Vice President Kamala Harris seized the opportunity.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Pelosi acknowledged that she had concerns about Biden's campaign and was unimpressed with his political operation. She also said that she had relayed concerns she got from other House Democrats to the White House about their campaigns being hurt by his struggles.
Pelosi Defends Role in Biden's Exit, Insists She Wanted an Open Process
However, Pelosi denied playing any role in forcing Biden to drop out, saying that he made the decision himself for the good of the country. She also threw her support behind Harris shortly after Biden's announcement.
Pelosi said that she had wanted an "open process" to replace Biden, but that Harris took advantage of the endorsement of the president and her own political astuteness to shut down – not shut down, but won the nomination. She added that anyone else could have gotten in.
Pelosi Defends Role in Biden's Exit, Insists She Wanted an Open Process
Pelosi's comments come amid reports that Biden is unhappy with how he was treated by powerful Democrats who helped push him out of the race. However, Pelosi does not appear to have any regrets, saying that her only goal was to win the election and that the country is very happy with the outcome.
Pelosi will address the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday. It remains to be seen whether she will use her speech to further defend her actions or to offer a more conciliatory tone towards Biden.
Pelosi Defends Role in Biden's Exit, Insists She Wanted an Open Process
In the meantime, the debate over Pelosi's role in Biden's departure from the race is likely to continue. Some Democrats have criticized Pelosi for undermining Biden and playing a role in his demise. Others have argued that she was simply acting in the best interests of the party and the country.
As the Democratic National Convention approaches, the spotlight will be on Pelosi and other party leaders to provide a unified front and to motivate voters to support Harris and the Democratic ticket in the upcoming election.
