RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — In a state expected to aid decide the presidency, House Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi did little to quell speculation Saturday in a room full of North Carolina Democrats about President Joe Biden’s path forward as the Democratic nominee.
Pelosi spoke to more than 900 people at the North Carolina Democratic Party’s fundraiser in Raleigh – an event billed as an annual “unity dinner” at a time of significant national disagreement over how the party will approach the 2024 presidential election. All eyes are on Democratic leaders like Pelosi, who colleagues say has her finger on the pulse of the party for a glimpse of what Biden’s future holds.
Her influence on the Democratic Party—and the direction the party is taking—was nowhere better emphasized than when she was introduced by U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C.
“When Nancy Pelosi speaks, everyone listens,” Adams said.
And in front of everyone, Pelosi gave a speech that barely mentioned Biden’s presidential candidacy.
Pelosi spent most of her speech describing the budget and policy battles in the U.S. House of Representatives, stressing the importance of funding public education, and reiterating the dangers of the Republican agenda. When she mentioned Biden, it was primarily to tout his administration’s policies.
At the end of her speech, Pelosi moved on to discussing the party’s plans for the coming months, focusing on Democrats’ mobilization efforts rather than on who they should mobilize for.
“Are you ready for a Democratic president?” Pelosi said to cheers. “I thought so.”
Since Biden’s disappointing performance in the debate with former Republican President Donald Trump on June 27, there has been considerable tension within the Democratic Party over whether the president is capable of defeating Trump.
The former speaker is among a growing group of prominent Democratic politicians who have expressed concern behind closed doors about Biden’s chances of winning in November. Pelosi told Biden in a private conversation that Democrats might lose control of the House if he didn’t drop out, but later said her statements had been misrepresented.
Although more and more Democratic lawmakers have called on Biden to withdraw, none of North Carolina’s seven Democratic lawmakers have publicly signaled that they would support the search for a fresh top candidate.
While some reports say Biden has been more open to dropping out of the race in private conversations, his campaign team has repeatedly reiterated its determination to remain in the race as a candidate.
Brenda Pollard, a delegate from Durham who has attended five Democratic conventions, said she has had conversations with Democrats across the state who support keeping Biden in office.
“As a pledged delegate, I will remain pledged until he says, ‘I’m not in,'” the 73-year-old said, later adding that she believes Vice President Kamala Harris is qualified to become president if Biden drops out.
About six in 10 Democrats 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 most hotly contested gubernatorial races in the country, pitting Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein against Republican Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson, who has become known for his similar, brash political style to Trump, making Robinson the target of criticism for statements some have found offensive and hurtful.
To reiterate the stakes in his race, Stein told the audience that voters will have to choose between “two competing visions” in a tough election – and that North Carolina will play a huge role in the decision.
“People in other states crave the power we have here in North Carolina. It’s a privilege to have that political power,” Stein said.
Stein did not mention Biden, but ended his speech by saying that the Democrats would “keep the White House and defeat Donald Trump.”
Taking the stage to a standing ovation, Governor Roy Cooper said Biden and Harris would “do anything for North Carolina.” But most of his speech focused on other issues, such as overcoming the Republican two-thirds majority in the legislature and getting Democrats in other state offices.
Cooper has become part of the national debate over the presidential race as pundits ponder who might become Harris’s running mate if Biden drops out of the race. Cooper’s status as a term-limited governor, as well as his powerful support of the Biden-Harris administration, have generated some interest in his prospects.
