The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Ex- Speaker Pelosi hints Biden should reconsider decision to stay in race
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY Pelosi of California, the former speaker, suggested on Wednesday that President Biden should reconsider his decision to remain in the presidential race, the strongest public push yet from a senior member of his party for him to weigh dropping out.
Despite mounting concerns that his candidacy could cost Democrats not only the White House but both chambers of Congress, Biden has been unequivocal about his intention to seek a second term.
On Wednesday, Pelosi said on MSNBC’S “Morning Joe” that Biden should continue to weigh his options. “It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run,” she said. “We’re all encouraging him to to make that decision. Because time is running short.”
When pressed on whether she wanted him to seek re- election, Pelosi said: “I want him to do whatever he decides to do. And that’s the way it is. Whatever he decides, we go with.”
Pelosi said she wanted to delay the conversations about Biden’s future until af ter the president’s first news conference since his debate performance that raised questions.
“Let’s just hold off,” she said. “Whatever you’re thinking, either tell somebody privately, but you don’t have to put that out on the table until we see how we go this week.”
On Capitol, Biden’s defiant refusal to drop out of the race — coupled with members of the influential Congressional Black Caucus vociferously rallying to his side — appears for now to have successfully paralyzed the entire party into a state of uncertainty and inaction during what lawmakers had deemed to be a critical week for Biden.