In an appearance on this weekend’s broadcast of CNN’s “State of the Union with Candy Crowley,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, the former House Speaker, said Mitt Romney’s selection of running mate Paul Ryan gave Democrats a major boost in their effort to retake control of Congress.
“For one year-and-a-half, since the Republicans passed their budget, which — the Romney-Ryan now Republican budget, which severs the Medicare guarantee –we have been saying there are three important issues in this campaign,” Pelosi said. “And in alphabetical order, they are Medicare, Medicare, Medicare. On August 11, when Gov. Romney chose Ryan, that was the pivotal day.”
Pelosi suggested that, prior to Ryan’s nomination, the battle for control of the House was a a coin flip, even though Republicans currently have far more seats and controlled most redistricting efforts this term.
“That is the day things really changed,” she said. “We were on a path. I would have said to you then we were dead even. Well, the momentum is very much with us, the Medicare issue in this campaign. So we have the message, we have the messengers, we have the money, we have the mobilization. We have a very excellent chance to take back the House.”
As for her possible return to power next year in Congress, Pelosi demurred.
“Whoever … will lead the party after that is up to my members,” Pelosi said. I feel that I have made my case … I actually didn’t choose to run last time. My members chose that I would run last time. But this isn’t about me. This is about Medicare. It’s about Social Security. It’s about women’s rights. It’s about the American dream. It’s about our democracy. All of that is on the ballot.”