Pelosi swats at Moulton and guarantees she'll be speaker
The California Democrat rebuffed claims that she wouldn’t have the votes.
By RACHAEL BADE 11/14/2018 11:28 AM EST Updated 11/14/2018 01:03 PM EST
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi swiped at her critics Wednesday, vowing in no uncertain terms to vanquish her opponents and become speaker in the next Congress.
The California Democrat brushed aside Rep. Seth Moulton's suggestion Tuesday night that he is “100 percent confident” that she does not have the votes to be speaker.
“I’m a busy person, but I will be the speaker of the House no matter what he said,” Pelosi told reporters as she exited a closed-door caucus meeting Wednesday morning.
On Wednesday, a swath of labor groups endorsed Pelosi, adding their names to a long list of women's groups, progressive groups and other organizations that have joined Pelosi's show-of-force pressure campaign. Her allies in Congress have been sending around letters to colleagues and disseminated press releases backing her as well.
But Pelosi opponents don’t have anyone ready to challenge her yet, which has undercut their own cause. Many lawmakers are uncomfortable going against Pelosi without having someone else to vote for.
The rebels had hoped to release a letter of about 20 incumbents and newly-elected candidates who were committed to voting against her on the floor, showing that they have the numbers to take Pelosi out and usher in an alternative. But Pelosi allies have convinced several incoming freshmen not to sign on to the rebels' letter, cautioning them that such antics could land them in trouble with leadership and start them off on the wrong foot.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/14/pelosi-speaker-votes-989968
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