Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Tuesday reflected on her conversations with former President Joe Biden, which included advising him to publicize a cognitive test to boost his reelection bid, while also offering praise to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) when discussing the future of the Democratic Party.
Speaking with Politico’s Jonathan Martin in San Francisco, Pelosi shed new light on her conversations with Biden during his embattled campaign for a second term. The former House speaker was also pressed on her opinion about lawmakers viewed as the party’s top picks for a 2028 presidential candidate, but was mum on the idea, only offering her praise.
On the topic of Biden, Pelosi was asked if she regretted waiting to speak up about the then-82-year-old’s decision to seek another term. She said the way their conversations were reported made it seem as though she had asked Biden not to run, when in reality she had raised broader questions about the track his campaign was on.
“I only said to President Biden, ‘I’ve come to question the polling that you have, and how your campaign is being conducted. I think there has to be a better campaign to win the White House,’” Pelosi said, adding that she asked an outsider pollster to talk with Biden’s pollsters so he could better understand how voters viewed him.
“At that point … 72% of the American people didn’t think he should run or could serve a term,” Pelosi said. “I don’t think he knew that.”
Pelosi said she told the then-president that the public could have a more positive view of him serving a second term if he underwent cognitive testing and made the results public.
“I did say this, ‘I think the public would like to hear that you’ve had a testing that demonstrates you can serve the next term,’” Pelosi said. “That’s all I said.”
She said Biden responded that his job tests his cognitive ability every day, but she reaffirmed that voters would like to see something diagnostic.
Pelosi’s conversation with Politico also touched on how the outgoing lawmaker sees the Democrats’ 2028 roster. When asked how the party would balance Newsom, whom she has referred to as “family,” and former Vice President Kamala Harris both launching presidential campaigns, Pelosi stopped short of endorsing the governor.
“When he decides to run, we’ll find out what that will be,” she said. “I think he’s extraordinarily talented. One thing I do know about him that many people may not: he’s very hardworking.”
Pelosi also sang the praises of Ocasio-Cortez, who is also viewed as a potential 2028 candidate. When asked what she sees next for Ocasio-Cortez, Pelosi only said that the decision is up to Ocasio-Cortez herself and offered compliments.
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“I think that she has been so operational and just wonderful,” she said. “No, it’s a joy to work with her, and I think most members think that.”
The relationship between the women has been marked by reports of generational tensions and policy disagreements. However, Pelosi said the feud was never serious and was often played up by the press.