House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) announced her endorsement of Hillary Clinton Tuesday morning while adding the Democratic primary race was not over in spite of her being declared the presumptive nominee.
In an interview on ABC's Good Morning America, Pelosi, who has criticized the controversial role of superdelegates in the nominating process, said "it's not over 'til it's over." The Associated Press reported Clinton had reached the magic number of 2,383 delegates Monday evening, partly on the strength of her wide lead over Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) in superdelegates.
Host George Stephanopoulos asked Pelosi, who had held back prior to this point on endorsing Clinton or Sanders, if she was ready to "embrace Hillary Clinton" as the nominee.
"Well, I'm a voter in California, and I have voted for Hillary Clinton for president of the United States and proud to endorse her for that position," Pelosi said. "But I hasten to say that it's not over 'til it's over. Californians haven't voted, nor have others in five states.
"So while the nomination may be there in the numbers in terms of superdelegates, I didn't endorse yet because I am a superdelegate and I think that the matter should be determined by the voters."
When Stephanopoulos reminded Pelosi of Sanders' promise to fight to flip superdelegates all the way to the Democratic National Convention, Pelosi hinted that Tuesday night's California primary could play a role in dissuading him.
Clinton is going for a victory and a knockout punch to put an end to Sanders' Cinderella candidacy.
"I think he's also said let's see what happens tonight and we'll go from there," Pelosi said. "Bernie knows better than anyone what's on the line in the election, and that we at some point have to unify as we go forward. He wants to influence the platform. I think that's fine."