Anita Dunn, a former senior adviser to President Joe Biden, has blamed Nancy Pelosi for the downfall of Biden’s re-election campaign, accusing her of undermining his chances with public criticism. Dunn, who has since joined a super PAC backing Vice President Kamala Harris, argued that Pelosi’s remarks after Biden’s poor debate performance in June were instrumental in convincing Democratic leaders and donors to push for Biden’s withdrawal.
Dunn highlighted how Pelosi’s television appearances questioning Biden’s viability gave others within the Democratic Party the green light to express similar doubts. This shift, Dunn claimed, made it increasingly difficult for Biden’s campaign to regain momentum. She also criticized Democratic donors for prioritizing their interests over the will of primary voters who had supported Biden.
The pressure mounted further after George Clooney, a major Democratic donor, wrote an op-ed urging Biden to step down. Despite initially resisting, Biden announced on July 21 that he would withdraw from the race, citing the need to unify the party. Dunn described this as an unprecedented move, noting that many undecided voters still saw Biden as a strong candidate.
Dunn also pointed to Pelosi’s leadership during the 2022 midterms as a factor in the Republican takeover of the House, suggesting that more effective leadership could have changed the outcome. While Pelosi has praised Biden since his withdrawal, her recent comments indicate a lingering disconnect between her and the president’s former team.
