Pelosi defends Schultz:
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday defended the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, who’s been under attack from Bernie Sanders for undermining his longshot bid to become the party’s presidential nominee.
Pelosi, D-Calif, seemed to choose her words carefully when reporters questioned her about Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who is also a Florida congresswoman.
“Chairwoman Wasserman Schultz has the respect of her colleagues for her efforts and her leadership to unify the party and to win the election in November,” she said. Pressed on whether she agreed with those sentiments, Pelosi said, “That was my statement.”
Pelosi said she was unaware of reports that some Democrats felt retaining Wasserman Schultz was making it difficult for the party to coalesce. Several congressional Democrats were reluctant Wednesday to discuss whether Wasserman Schultz was viewed as a hindrance to unity.
“I’m not going to get involved in conversations about personality,” Pelosi said. “I told you that Debbie Wasserman Schultz has the respect of her colleagues in the House for her hard work to unify and to win the elections.”
Sanders’ campaign against front-runner Hillary Clinton has created rifts within the party, with many of his more liberal, younger supporters following his lead and expressing resentment against the party establishment.
He has accused Wasserman Schultz of favoring Clinton by scheduling debates on weekend nights, for having many closed primaries not open to independent voters and for the superdelegate system that helped Clinton pad her lead. Clinton backers have been upset that Sanders hasn’t abandoned his campaign so she can focus on likely Republican nominee Donald Trump.