Pelosi says ‘it’s up to the president’ to decide to stay in the race

By James On Jul 10, 2024

WASHINGTON — Emeritus Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday that “it is up to the president to decide” whether to stay in the race despite the presidential Joe Bidens He continues to insist he is still running, showing how undecided the issue remains among leading Democrats and Capitol Hill.

“We all encourage him to make that decision, because time is running out,” Pelosi said Wednesday on MSNBC.

Pelosi is being closely watched for signals about how leading Democrats feel about Biden’s policies. threatened candidacyand her comments will be considered important for the direction of the party as they present possible alternatives in the campaign against Republican Donald Trump.

Because of her powerful position as former speaker of the House of Representatives and her close relationship with Biden as a staunch ally of his generation, Pelosi is seen as one of the few Democratic leaders who could influence the president’s thinking.

Asked if she personally wants Biden to remain at the top of the list, as he has done stubbornly insisted that he would stay in the racePelosi said, “I want him to do whatever he decides to do.”

Pelosi’s lack of full support for Biden’s continued campaign is the one lawmakers are likely to hear most often, suggesting that despite the president’s insistence that he won’t step aside, his party still has questions.

Pelosi said Biden “has been a great president” who is loved and respected by House Democrats.

The Californian said she watched him deliver a powerful speech at the NATO summit on Tuesday and, with foreign leaders in Washington this week, encouraged Democrats to “hold on” to any announcements about his campaign.

“Whatever you think, tell someone privately, but you don’t have to put it on the table until we see it,” she said, sharing how things are going “this week.”

Democrats are in turmoil over whether to continue supporting Biden after his poor performance in the presidential debate with Trump last month and his campaign’s tepid response to their pleas for Biden to show voters he is running for another four-year term.