Former Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) made headlines when she seemingly snubbed Vice President Kamala Harris in a statement about President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 race. In her statement sent Sunday, Pelosi expressed gratitude towards the president for his service but failed to mention Harris, despite Biden endorsing her for the same race.
Pelosi began by praising President Joe Bien, calling him a “patriotic American” who has always placed the country’s interests first. She went on to highlight his legacy as one of America’s most consequential Presidents ever due to his vision, values, and leadership. Pelosi expressed her love and gratitude for Biden’s unwavering belief in the promise of America and giving people a chance to fulfill their potential.
She concluded her statement by expressing her appreciation for God’s blessing upon America through Joe Biden’s greatness and goodness – all without mentioning Kamala Harris. The omission sparked questions about how the Democrat Party would move forward in determining its presidential nominee, and whether or not it would ultimately be Harris who gets the nod.
Pelosi recently shared her thoughts with colleagues in the California delegation that if Biden stepped down from the race, she would prefer an open primary over simply endorsing Harris as the nominee. According to a New York Times report, Pelosi is said to be a “friend and fan” of Harris but believes the vice president could benefit from going through a competitive process at the convention.
This preference for an open primary may also stem from polling data that suggests neither Biden nor Harris would fare particularly well against former President Donald Trump in the election. Pelosi is reportedly confident that the Democratic Party has a deep bench of talented individuals to draw upon, including governors and senators from competitive states.