RALEIGH, NC (AP) — In a state expected to help decide the presidency, House Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi did little to quell speculation about the president Joe Biden path forward as the Democratic nominee to a room full of North Carolina Democrats on Saturday.
Pelosi addressed more than 900 people at the North Carolina Democratic Party’s fundraiser in Raleigh — an event billed as the annual “Unity Dinner” during a time of significant national discord over how the party will proceed in 2024 presidential elections. All eyes are on Democratic leaders like Pelosi, who colleagues say has her finger on the pulse of the party, to get a glimpse of what Biden’s future holds.
The power it holds in the Democratic Party – and the direction the party is headed in – was no better emphasized than in its introduction by U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C.
“When Nancy Pelosi speaks, everyone listens,” Adams said.
And with everyone listening, Pelosi delivered a speech with virtually no mention of Biden’s presidential candidacy.
Pelosi spent most of her speech recounting budget and policy battles in the U.S. House, highlighting the importance of funding public education and reiterating the dangers of the Republican agenda. When she mentioned Biden, it was mainly to praise his administration’s policies.
At the end of her speech, Pelosi went on to discuss the party’s plans for the coming months and chose to focus on Democratic mobilization efforts rather than who to support.
“Are you ready for a Democratic president?” Pelosi said amid applause. “I thought so.”
Since Biden’s dismal performance in the June 27 debate with former Republican President Donald Trumpthere have been significant consequences within the Democratic Party over whether the president is capable of defeating Trump.
The former speaker is among growing group of prominent Democratic leaders who have expressed concerns behind closed doors about Biden’s ability to win in November. Pelosi told Biden privately that Democrats may not be able to control the House if he doesn’t quit, but later said their conversations were misrepresented.
Despite a wave of Democratic lawmakers calling for Biden to drop out, none of North Carolina’s seven Democratic representatives have publicly signaled support for finding a new candidate to lead the ticket.
While some reports say Biden is more open to the idea of dropping out of the race in private discussions, his campaign team continually reaffirmed your commitment to remain as appointed.
Brenda Pollard, a delegate from Durham who has attended five Democratic conventions, said she has spoken to Democrats across the state who want Biden to stay.
“As a pledged delegate, until he says ‘I’m not,’ I will continue to be pledged,” the 73-year-old said, later adding that she feels Vice President Kamala Harris has the qualifications to be president. if Biden dropped out.
About 6 in 10 Democrats I believe Harris has what it takes to be a good president, according to a recent AP-NORC Center poll.
North Carolina is also home to one of the tightest gubernatorial races in the country, pitting the state’s Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein against Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. The latter became known for his brash, Trump-like political style, which made Robinson a lightning rod for criticism of statements some found it offensive and harmful.
To reiterate what’s at stake in his race, Stein told the audience that voters can choose between “two competing visions” in a competitive election — one that he said North Carolina will play a big role in deciding.
“People in other states crave the kind of power we have here in North Carolina. Having this political power is a privilege,” Stein said.
Stein did not mention Biden, but ended his speech by saying Democrats “will keep the White House and defeat Donald Trump.”
Received by a standing ovation, Governor Roy Cooper also took the stage, saying that Biden and Harris are “all for North Carolina.” But most of his speech highlighted other issues, such as the breakdown of the Republican Party’s legislative majority and the placement of Democrats in other statewide offices.
Cooper has become part of the national debate over the presidential race as experts consider who could be Harris’ 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 sparked some interest in his prospects.
