In a recent interview, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) discussed the circumstances surrounding Vice President Kamala Harris’s rise to the Democratic nomination. When asked about her previous comments on an open primary, Pelosi clarified that she did not change her mind, but rather, Harris won the open primary after President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race.
Pelosi explained that Harris’s success was due in part to her political astuteness and the endorsement from President Biden, which carried significant weight. “He’s the most consequential president of modern times,” Pelosi said, highlighting Biden’s accomplishments during his time in office.
Pelosi also addressed criticism that the process was not truly open, stating that Harris simply got a “running start” due to her popularity and Biden’s endorsement.
The conversation came after California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) recently mocked the process that led to Harris becoming the nominee. Newsom made the comments on the podcast “Pod Save America,” sarcastically describing the process as “bottom-up” and joking about a 30-minute convention between two tweets.
Newsom’s remarks were seen as a jab at the speed and manner in which Harris became the nominee after Biden dropped out of the race.
