PELOSI: ‘I’M THE BEST ONE’ FOR THE HOUSE
Democrats split on role for longtime rep.
U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi confirmed yesterday she intends to be House speaker again --- and she picked up a surprising endorsement from her nemesis, President Trump.
“I’m a good negotiator, as anyone can see in terms of how we’ve won every negotiation,” Pelosi said in a news conference yesterday. “I’m the best one to go forward, and I’m not going to answer any more questions on that subject.”
President Trump, meanwhile — who also prides himself on his negotiating skills — said gave her vow to work across the aisle a thumbs up.
“I really respected what Nancy said last night about bipartisanship and getting together uniting,” Trump said yesterday, though he added, “It will probably be very good for me politically. I am better at that game than they are, actually. But we’ll find out or we can work together.”
Pelosi was speaker from 2007 to 2011, and has faced pressure to make way fresh leadership — including public opposition by U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.).
While there are “legitimate concerns” about younger Democrats having a voice in the party, Democratic National Committeewoman Elaine Kamarck said, “A lot of this is because of Republican demonization. Republicans
stirred it up.”
She added, “The House leadership put together a very strong campaign — they raised an enormous amount of money and recruited very strong candidates. When push comes to shove, nobody’s going to figure out a reason not to re-elect them.”
Pelosi is often used as a foil by Republicans who campaign against her even when their districts are far away from her San Fransisco home, branding her an ultraliberal elitist.
The Massachusetts delegation is just about evenly split between Pelosi loyalists and those who either are keeping their options open or aren’t talking.
Moulton indicated he is still looking for change.
“He wants to see new leadership in the house,” Moulton spokesman Matt Corridoni said. “He’s going to see who steps forward as a candidate.”
U.S. Rep.-elect Ayanna Pressley told Channel 7, “I look forward to sitting down with all the candidates who put their names forward so I can make a fully informed decision.”
U.S. Rep.-elect Lori Trahan said she admires Pelosi, who campaigned for her, but said in a statement to the Herald yesterday, “I look forward to seeing whom is put forth for the House leadership position, and expect to weigh in once I have more information.”
Pelosi has backers among the Bay State’s all-Democrat congressional district: U.S. Reps. Richard Neal, Katherine Clark, Joseph Kennedy III and James McGovern.
U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch’s office declined to comment, and William Keating’s office did not respond to a request for comment.