In a recent interview, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed her belief that President Joe Biden's delayed decision to withdraw from the presidential race may have impacted Democrats' ability to defeat Donald Trump. Pelosi noted that had Biden exited the race earlier, it could have allowed for other candidates to enter the Democratic primary.
Pelosi's comments come amidst ongoing tensions between her and Biden, stemming from her involvement in orchestrating his removal from the Democratic ticket in July. While Pelosi has denied actively pushing for Biden's withdrawal, she has been vocal about her reservations regarding his candidacy.
During the interview, Pelosi suggested that a more competitive Democratic primary could have ensued had Biden stepped aside sooner. She anticipated a scenario where Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Biden endorsed promptly after his exit, would have faced stronger competition from fellow Democrats.
According to Pelosi, Biden's swift endorsement of Harris effectively prevented the possibility of a contested primary at that time. She emphasized that an earlier withdrawal by Biden could have led to a different outcome, potentially benefiting Harris and strengthening the Democratic nominee.
Reflecting on the sequence of events, Pelosi highlighted the significance of Biden's endorsement of Harris in shaping the primary landscape. She acknowledged that while the situation did not unfold as she had anticipated, the party ultimately rallied around Harris, eliminating the prospect of a more open primary.
Despite the outcome, Pelosi acknowledged the uncertainty of how events would have transpired under different circumstances. She concluded by stating, 'We live with what happened,' underscoring the impact of Biden's timing on the Democratic primary process.
