Who does Pelosi want to be the nominee?
Two of the three top Senate Democrats have endorsed a candidate in the battle for the Democratic nomination. Senator Chuck Schumer, the number three democrat in the Senate has endorsed Senator Clinton, while Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin has endorsed Senator Obama. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has not endorsed a candidate and is not expected to until the last possible moment.
At the same time, none of the House Democratic Leadership have endorsed a candidate. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Majority Whip James Clyburn have decided to remain neutral (although there were reports in late January that Clyburn threatened to endorse Obama if the Clinton campaign did alter its tone and cease its divisive strategy). Congressman Rahm Emanuel (IL-5), who is the Chairman of the Democratic Caucus, said in 2006 that if Senator Clinton ran, she would have his full support, but when it became clear that Senator Obama was going to run, he chose to remain neutral as they are from the same state. Emanuel’s loyalties to both Senators Obama and Clinton have caused him to not endorse in the race. While it is difficult to discern which candidate Clyburn, Hoyer and Emanuel support, it is easier to figure out which candidate Speaker Pelosi backs.
Speaker Pelosi has publicly said that she will remain neutral. However, she may very well have tipped her hand from behind the scenes actions and statements made to the media about the nominating process. Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee George Miller, a close ally of Pelosi, endorsed Senator Obama earlier this year. Miller would not endorse Obama without the blessing of Speaker Pelosi. In recent weeks, Pelosi has taken the stance that Florida and Michigan should not be allowed to re-vote, nor should they seat delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Denver; a stance that would benefit Senator Obama. She has said on several occasions that a Clinton Obama ticket would never happen, killing Hillary Clinton’s argument that if you vote for her, you still might get Obama. Pelosi has also stated that superdelegates should not ignore the will of the voters and nominate the candidate who has fewer votes and pledged delegates, which is a position of Senator Obama.
If and when the nomination is decided by the superdelegates, Pelosi will be able to move a large amount of superdelegates to the candidate of her choosing. Even though Nancy Pelosi has not publicly endorsed a candidate, she certainly has made her preference known and Senator Obama will reap the benefits.
