Nancy Pelosi stops short of saying that Biden should stay in the race, says “time is running out” for him to decide

WASHINGTON — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Wednesday avoided a full endorsement of President Joe Biden remaining in the 2024 race, saying it’s up to him to run, but warned the clock is ticking .

“It’s up to the president to decide whether he’s going to run. We all encourage him to make that decision because time is running out,” Pelosi said in an interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” when asked if Biden had her support. to be the head of the Democratic ticket.

Pelosi indicated she could not say whether Biden has the overwhelming support of Democrats in Congress, especially since she no longer holds a leadership role.

“But he is loved, respected and people want him to make this decision. I don’t,” she said.

Asked if she wants him to run, Pelosi said, “I want him to do whatever he decides to do, and that’s the way it is. Whatever he decides, we’re on board.”

Pelosi’s remarks are highly notable given that she continues to be a prominent member of the Democratic caucus, as speaker emeritus, whose rank and file still look to her for guidance.

The former president suggested that she told her fellow Democrats to “hold off” publicly stating their views on whether Biden should remain in the race.

“I told everyone, let’s wait, whatever you’re thinking, tell someone privately, but you don’t have to put it on the table until we see how we go this week,” she said.

In response to Pelosi, a Biden campaign official referred to the letter the president sent to Democratic lawmakers on Monday, stating that he is “firmly committed to staying in this race, to seeing it through and to defeating Donald Trump.” Trump.”

The official also cited comments Pelosi made to a reporter on Tuesday in which she said, “I have always been committed to him.” On that same exchange, when asked if Biden is the best person for the ticket, Pelosi also said: “I’m not making any statements right now here in the room. When I’m ready to make a statement, I will.”

While Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., reiterated their support for Biden as a candidate this week, many other Democrats they remained silent. At least nine House Democrats have publicly called on Biden to withdraw from the race. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado on Tuesday became the first Senate Democrat to say publicly that he doesn’t think Biden can defeat Trump.

Last week, Pelosi also said in an interview with MSNBC that it was a “legitimate question” whether Biden’s debate performance was a “condition” or just an “episode.”

Biden and the White House have rejected the idea that he had any serious health problems that affected him that night, and the president has emphatically said he will remain in the race.