As DNC kicks off in Chicago, Nancy Pelosi downplays rift with Joe Biden
Nancy Pelosi Monday had strong praise for Joe Biden, telling critics who have suggested she played a crucial role in his departure from the race that she only wanted the Democratic party to win in November.
Biden came under intense pressure after his disastrous June 27 debate with former President Donald Trump to drop out of the race. Pelosi, the former House speaker who still has tremendous clout in Congress and her party, was seen as a decisive voice in advising him. Biden was reportedly somewhat resistant to the idea he was hurting the party.
Asked Monday about her role in the Biden drama, Pelosi told reporters, “I have my relationship with the president and I just wanted to win this election.”
Turning to party critics of her actions, Pelosi said, “If they’re upset I’m sorry for them but the country is very happy.”
Biden left the race July 21, and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. Pelosi echoed that support. Since then, Harris has drawn enthusiastic crowds and gained in polls against former President Donald Trump.
Pelosi spoke at a meeting of California delegates at the Democratic convention’s first day, as the former House Speaker insisted she thinks the world of Biden and Kamala Harris to simply be herself.
Pelosi was gracious in discussing the president and was enthusiastic about Harris, a fellow San Francisco politician with a very different style.
In a room full of political stars from Harris’ home state, Pelosi was the featured attraction Monday as hundreds of California convention delegates met for the first time.
Pelosi and cheerleader-in-chief
The session at the downtown Chicago Hyatt Regency Hotel was a resounding show of support for Harris, the party’s presidential nominee and a former California attorney general and U.S. senator
Though Pelosi and Harris are both veterans of San Francisco’s brutal politics, they have different political personas.
Pelosi is 84, a Baltimore native who’s the daughter of one of the city’s mayors and the sister of another. She became involved in San Francisco politics after moving there and working behind the scenes as a fundraiser and strategist.
She reflected on the first time she sought her congressional seat in 1987. “I never expected to run for office so I am receptive to advice. Be yourself. Be the authentic you. Know your why. Why are you doing this. For the children. For the future. For our country,” she said.
She repeated those thoughts often Monday in advising Harris.
Harris, 59, took a different route to San Francisco political stardom. She was elected the city’s district attorney in 2003, then attorney general twice and a U.S. senator in 2016. She’s not known as a strategist, but rather a pragmatic policy-maker and passionate speaker.
Pelosi channeled some of that passion Monday in urging the delegation to get enthusiastic about Harris. She spoke to the crowd for about 12 minutes, saying California’s clout is now in the hands of a new generation.
“This is historic. We are gathered today as Californians, the golden state, very blue, very powerful and we are here to nominate and then elect the next president of the United States and she is from California,” Pelosi said., adding, “The torch has been passed to her..”
Pelosi as star
After she was done, a crowd immediately gathered around her. People snapped pictures. They wanted to thank her.
She stepped into the hall and took questions from the media.
All she had had to eat so far since arriving in Chicago Sunday was a hot dog, the sort that the city is famous for. Was it any good? “It was good. It was good,” she said, trying to be polite.
She had effusive praise for Biden, calling him “very selfless,” and “one of the greatest most consequential presidents in our country’s history.”
She wouldn’t mention Republican nominee Donald Trump’s name. They’ve long been political enemies. Republicans spent years in ads and social media demonizing Pelosi. She famously ripped up his 2020 State of the Union address before she even left the House podium.
Pelosi has negotiated major legislation with both Harris and Trump. “The difference between the two is that Kamala Harris has a set of values and priorities, so when you’re negotiating you can make progress,” she said .“When was in the room all he wanted was a tax cut for the richest people in America.”
This story was originally published August 19, 2024 at 3:19 PM