House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi is pressing for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to run for president in 2016.
“I think the country is ready for Hillary,” Pelosi said Thursday on Andrea Mitchell Reports. “I certainly hope that she will choose to run. I think if she does, she will win. I think if and when she does, I think she’ll be the best prepared person to enter the White House in decades.”
Pelosi touted Clinton’s experience from her various political roles from first lady of Arkansas to secretary of state as being the credentials Clinton needs to win.
“I think the knowledge she has great judgment– and the respect she commands signals that she will be successful should she decide to run,” Pelosi said. “And I think it would be a great thing for our country to have a woman president. I always thought that it would be easier to elect a woman to be president of the United States than to be speaker of the House.”
Pelosi remained confident and adamant that “the American people are way ahead of the politicians in Washington,” when it comes to women holding higher positions of power. Mitchell asked Pelosi whether she in fact would become a Clinton supporter if the decision was made to run because she has expressed little doubt of where she stands when it comes to the former secretary of state.
Pelosi coyly answered, “I have a habit of supporting people when they decide to run. And I’ve said very positive things.” The duo also discusses a possible showdown between Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden in 2016 and Pelosi had nothing but praise for the latter, calling Biden a “magnificent leader.”
“Some of the issues that we’re working on now, whether it’s gun safety– whether it’s issues that relate to– immigration, the growth of our economy, the creation of jobs, he’s been there and done that over and over again, for decades both in the Senate and now for a long time as vice president,” Pelosi said. Later, Mitchell and Pelosi spoke in detail about the recent setback in state legislatures on women’s health issues. Pelosi explained that Republicans in Congress and a few Democrats “don’t believe in contraception or family planning” so they won’t vote for it but also talked about why her she believes neither should be a political issue. “It’s respect for the judgment of women about what is good for them, for their families, for their health, which is important to their families,” Pelosi said. “The reality is that people in our country do practice birth control and use contraception. I don’t know whether my colleagues need a lesson in the birds and the bees. I just really don’t get it but they don’t get that I’m so open in my comments about it.” Watch the video below to see the Andrea Mitchell’s entire interview with Nancy Pelosi and the other topics they spoke about including gun control, the Zimmerman verdict and immigration.
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