Representative Nancy Pelosi, the influential former speaker, announced her support for the vice president, but the two top Democrats in Congress stayed neutral, saying she was “off to a great start.”
- Share full article
Representative Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Chuck Schumer, in a February photo, have decided to remain neutral for now.
The two top Democrats in Congress stopped short on Monday of endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president, even as dozens of lawmakers rapidly lined up behind her. However, the leaders praised her for amassing support from all corners of the party as she seeks to claim the nomination.
One day after President Biden announced he was dropping out of the race and was endorsing Ms. Harris, the decision by Senator Chuck Schumer, the majority leader, and Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the minority leader, to remain neutral — at least for now — reflected their desire to avoid being seen as dictating the outcome of an extraordinary turn in the presidential contest.
“Vice President Kamala Harris is off to a great start with her promise to pursue the presidential nomination in a manner consistent with the grass roots and transparent process set forth by the Democratic National Committee,” the two, both of New York, said in a joint statement. “She is rapidly picking up support from grass roots delegates from one end of the country to the other. We look forward to meeting in person with Vice President Harris shortly as we collectively work to unify the Democratic Party and the country.”
The careful statement was notable at a time when Democratic governors, donors, state party chairs and members of Congress — including Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the influential former speaker — were all quickly lining up to enthusiastically back Ms. Harris’s candidacy.
“Today, it is with immense pride and limitless optimism for our country’s future that I endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president of the United States,” Ms. Pelosi said in a statement. “My enthusiastic support for Kamala Harris for president is official, personal and political.”
The dissonance with Mr. Schumer and Mr. Jeffries was driven at least in part by their belief that for leaders who hold great sway with members of Congress, an endorsement would make Ms. Harris’s nomination look more like a coronation than an organic coalescing of a newly energized party, according to people briefed on their thinking who described it on the condition they not be named. Former President Barack Obama has also not endorsed Ms. Harris.
Many Elected Democrats Quickly Endorsed Kamala Harris. See Who Did.
Every Democratic governor and a majority of Democrats in Congress have come out in support of Ms. Harris’s candidacy.
We are having trouble retrieving the article content.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
Source: nytimes.com