Nancy Pelosi, who hinted at Biden’s exit, to back Harris at DNC

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is poised to deliver a speech at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night, where she is expected to throw her support behind Vice President Kamala Harris. This comes after Pelosi appeared to have played a notable role in President Joe Biden’s decision to step aside from the top of the Democratic ticket.

In her upcoming address, Pelosi will also endorse Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as he makes his acceptance speech on Day 3 of the convention, highlighting her familiarity with him from their time together in Congress.

Pelosi, who endorsed Harris last month as the party’s nominee for president, has not publicly called for Biden to withdraw from the race. During a July 10 interview, when asked about Biden’s support, Pelosi opted not to directly confirm her backing after the president’s disappointing performance in a recent debate.

“It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run,” Pelosi stated during her appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” She added, “We’re all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short.”

At that time, Biden had already expressed his intentions to run for reelection, stating definitively to congressional Democrats that he was “firmly committed” to his campaign. Pelosi’s comments, however, seemed to undermine any progress Biden might have made in convincing congressional Democrats of his viability for the presidency.

Her ambiguous stance allowed rank-and-file Democrats to amplify calls for Biden to consider withdrawing from the race. Prominent figures within the party, including Pelosi, raised alarms that Biden’s continued candidacy could harm Democratic candidates running for office in lower positions on the ballot.

Ultimately, these pressures contributed significantly to Biden’s decision to exit the race just weeks later.

Even though Pelosi passed the leadership of the Democratic caucus to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries in 2023, her considerable influence within the party persists. Her fundraising abilities have been pivotal to shaping Democratic politics and candidates over the years.

Pelosi’s endorsement of Harris carries weight as she emphasizes both personal and political connections. As the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House, she expressed her unwavering support for Harris, saying, “Officially, I have seen Kamala Harris’s strength and courage as a champion for working families, notably fighting for a woman’s right to choose.” She further noted, “Personally, I have known Kamala Harris for decades as rooted in strong values, faith, and a commitment to public service. Politically, make no mistake: Kamala Harris as a woman in politics is brilliantly astute – and I have full confidence that she will lead us to victory in November.”