RALEIGH, NC — In a state expected to help decide the presidency, the House Speaker Emerita said Nancy Pelosi did little to quell speculation about the president Joe Bidens Saturday to give a presentation to a room full of North Carolina Democrats about his path as a Democratic candidate.
Pelosi addressed more than 900 people at the North Carolina Democratic Party’s fundraiser in Raleigh, an event billed as the annual “Unity Dinner” at a time of significant national disagreement over how the party will proceed in the 2024 Presidential ElectionAll eyes are on Democratic leaders like Pelosi, who colleagues say she finger on the pulse of the party, to catch a glimpse of what Biden’s future holds.
The power she wields within the Democratic Party — and the direction the party is taking — was no better emphasized than in her introduction by U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C.
“When Nancy Pelosi speaks, everyone listens,” Adams said.
As everyone listened, Pelosi delivered a speech that barely mentioned Biden’s presidential candidacy.
Pelosi spent most of her speech describing budget and policy battles in the U.S. House of Representatives, emphasizing the importance of funding public education and reiterating the dangers of the Republican agenda. When she did mention Biden, it was largely to tout his administration’s policies.
At the end of her speech, Pelosi addressed the party’s plans for the coming months, deciding to focus on the Democrats’ mobilization efforts rather than on who to mobilize.
“Are you ready for a Democratic president?” Pelosi said to cheers. “That’s what I thought.”
Since Biden’s poor performance during the June 27 debate with former Republican President Donald Trump, there has been significant disagreement within the Democratic Party over whether the president can beat Trump.
The former speaker belongs to a growing group of prominent Democratic leaders who have raised concerns behind closed doors about Biden’s ability to win in November. Pelosi privately told Biden that Democrats might not be able to win control of the House if he doesn’t drop out, but she later said her conversations had been misrepresented.
Despite a wave of Democratic lawmakers calling for Biden’s impeachment, none of North Carolina’s seven Democratic representatives have publicly expressed support for finding a new candidate to lead the race.
While some reports say Biden is more open to the idea of discussing the race in private, his campaign team has constantly confirmed his commitment to remain as a nominee.
Brenda Pollard, a Durham delegate who has attended five Democratic conventions, said she has had conversations with Democrats in the state who want Biden to stay.
“As a pledged delegate, I will remain pledged until he says, ‘I won’t,’” the 73-year-old said, later adding that she believed Vice President Kamala Harris had the credentials to become president if Biden withdraws.
About 6 in 10 Democrats believe Harris has the qualities to be a good president, according to a recent poll by the AP-NORC Center.
North Carolina is also home to one of the most hotly contested gubernatorial races in the country, pitting Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein against Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. The latter has become known for a similarly brash political style to Trump, making Robinson a lightning rod for criticism of statements some found it offensive and harmful.
Reiterating the stakes of his race, Stein told the audience that voters have a choice between “two competing visions” in a competitive election — one he said North Carolina will play a big role in deciding.
“People in other states crave the kind of power that we have here in North Carolina. Having that kind of political power is a privilege,” Stein said.
Stein did not mention Biden, but closed his speech by saying that Democrats “will keep the White House and defeat Donald Trump.”
Gov. Roy Cooper was greeted with a standing ovation and also took the stage. He said Biden and Harris are “all in for North Carolina.” But most of his speech focused on other issues, such as breaking the GOP legislative supermajority and getting Democrats into other statewide positions.
Cooper has become part of the national conversation about the presidential race as pundits weigh who Harris might be running mate if Biden drops out of the race. Cooper’s status as a term-limited governor, as well as his strong support for the Biden-Harris administration, has generated some interest in his prospects.