Biden harbors lingering frustration at Pelosi, Obama, Schumer
Ahead of the convention that’s meant to unify the party, tensions still remain.
President Joe Biden is frustrated that Barack Obama wouldn’t tell him to his face that he should leave the race. He’s angry with Nancy Pelosi and views her as ruthless for ushering him out the door. And he’s still miffed at the role Chuck Schumer played, too.
Biden has told his closest aides and associates that he is coming to terms with his decision to bow out of the presidential race last month, but still harbors some frustration toward the members of his own party he believes pushed him out, according to three people familiar with Biden’s thinking who are not authorized to speak publicly about private conversations.
Pelosi has been at the forefront of late, as the former speaker is on an extensive book tour and has been publicly explaining her part in nudging Biden off the top of the ticket. The president is still smarting but has told people in recent days that he grudgingly respects Pelosi’s actions.
“She did what she had to do” in order to give Democrats the best chance to win in November, Biden told one of the people, adding that Pelosi “cares about the party,” not about feelings.
The lingering tension between Democratic leaders underscores the historic tumult that has gripped their party in the last six weeks — contrasting with the unity Democrats hope to present at their convention next week. Biden’s faltering debate performance in late June convinced Pelosi that he could not win and she helped orchestrate an unprecedented mutiny against not only a sitting president of her own party, but also someone who had been a friend for decades.
“President Biden is passionately focused on delivering more historic, concrete results for the American people every single day of his term — by continuing to strengthen the middle class, continuing to stand up for our freedoms, and continuing to bring violent crime to its lowest level in half a century,” said White House spokesperson Andrew Bates. “The President has spoken to his decision to put country above self and unite his party, as well as the stakes of this moment. His attention is on the future, not the past.”…
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