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Nancy Pelosi played a central role in President Joe Biden’s decision to exit the 2024 presidential race, according to revelations in Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House. The book details how Pelosi privately urged Biden , arguing it would “lower the presidency” to engage with his rival. She reportedly appealed to Biden’s ego, telling him, “You shouldn’t lower yourself to Donald Trump”. Despite her warnings, Biden insisted on debating, a decision that backfired spectacularly after his widely criticized performance.
When Biden’s debate struggles ignited panic among Democrats, Pelosi spearheaded efforts to push him out. Behind the scenes, she coordinated with former President Barack Obama, who also doubted Biden’s viability and Kamala Harris’s electability. Pelosi’s concerns extended beyond Biden’s candidacy: She feared losing House control if he remained atop the ticket. After the debate, donors froze funding, and lawmakers revolted, forcing Pelosi to confront Biden directly.
Biden initially resisted, but Pelosi’s pressure—combined with Obama’s quiet maneuvering—led him to withdraw. The book reveals Biden’s delayed endorsement of Harris: He initially refused to back her immediately after dropping out, relenting only when she demanded his support to unify the party. Pelosi’s fingerprints were “at the crime scene” of Biden’s ouster, as one source described it, underscoring her ruthless pragmatism in prioritizing Democratic survival over loyalty.
The fallout exposed deeper party fractures. Obama and Pelosi shared skepticism about Harris, with Obama privately pushing for an open primary. Harris, meanwhile, inherited a fractured coalition and a campaign unprepared to pivot from Biden’s agenda. Despite initial momentum, internal missteps—including overconfidence in polling and failure to address Biden’s record—doomed her bid.
Trump’s campaign capitalized on Democratic disarray, exploiting voter frustration over the economy and Biden’s perceived decline. The GOP’s focus on Harris’s progressive record in California, particularly on transgender issues, further eroded her support.
