Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made waves on Friday with candid comments about President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Speaking to the New York Times, Pelosi suggested that Democrats might have been better off if they had the chance to pick a different candidate.

She even hinted that if Biden had stepped aside earlier, the party could have explored other options.

The Timing of Biden’s Exit and Its Impact

Pelosi’s remarks come at a turbulent time within the Democratic Party, where divisions have deepened between the Biden and Harris factions.

As the fallout from Donald Trump’s dominant victory continues to loom, Pelosi’s admission about Biden’s timing stings.

She expressed regret that Biden didn’t exit the race sooner, giving the party more time to consider other potential contenders.

Had Biden dropped out earlier, Pelosi believes the party would have seen a competitive primary process.

This would have allowed various Democratic leaders, including some rumored names like former First Lady Michelle Obama, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and California Governor Gavin Newsom, to enter the fray and challenge for the nomination.

What Might Have Been: The Missed Opportunity for an Open Primary

Pelosi revealed that she was not keen on the idea of Harris automatically becoming the Democratic nominee following Biden’s decision to bow out.

She described the anticipated scenario where Biden would step aside and open up a primary race.

“If the president had gotten out sooner, there may have been other candidates in the race,” Pelosi explained.

“The expectation was that if the president were to step aside, there would be an open primary.”

This primary would have offered a chance for new faces to emerge and contest the nomination.

Despite Newsom denying interest earlier this year, many speculate that he would have been a top contender had an open race materialized.

Harris’ Path Forward and Pelosi’s Reflection

However, Pelosi acknowledged that things didn’t unfold as expected.

Once Biden made his announcement on July 21, endorsing Harris as his successor, the notion of a competitive primary quickly evaporated.

Pelosi noted that, had Biden endorsed Harris earlier, it would have been much harder for anyone else to enter the race.

“Had the endorsement come much earlier, things might have played out differently,” Pelosi confessed. “But that didn’t happen. We live with what happened.”

While Pelosi speculated that Harris might have performed well in an open primary, she also admitted that it was by no means guaranteed.

“Kamala may have done well, and I think she would have been stronger going forward,” Pelosi said. “But we don’t know that.”

Pelosi Defends the Party’s Direction Amid Criticism from Bernie Sanders

In addition to her reflections on the presidential race, Pelosi also responded to progressive Senator Bernie Sanders’ criticism of the Democratic Party’s relationship with working-class voters.

Sanders, who has run unsuccessfully for president in 2016 and 2020, accused the party of abandoning its base. Pelosi, however, didn’t mince words in her rebuttal.

“Bernie Sanders has not won,” she remarked bluntly.

“And while I have great respect for him and what he stands for, I don’t respect him saying that the Democratic Party has abandoned working-class families.”

With Pelosi’s 20th consecutive House race victory fresh in the news, these comments add fuel to the fire of a Democratic party struggling with its identity and future leadership.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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