Pelosi Is More Toxic Than Trump

CLEVELAND, Ohio -The Democratic Party losing special elections in Kansas, Montana, South Carolina and Georgia, has prompted renewed calls for the ouster of Rep. Nancy Pelosi as House Minority Leader.

"So you want me to sing my praises, is that what you're saying?" the California Democrat remarked dismissively to reporters when asked why she should stay on as leader. Well, I am a master legislator.

The leadership of the House Democratic Caucus tried to put the best face on Tuesday's special election losses in Georgia and SC by saying they're making progress, and the GOP victories were much more narrow than in the past.

"I think it will be very hard", he said.

The main argument against Pelosi from her Democratic detractors is that more than 30 years in Washington and hundreds of millions of dollars in attack ads against her have taken their toll when it comes to public opinion.

Democratic candidate for 6th congressional district Jon Ossoff, left, concedes to Republican Karen Handel while joined by his fiancee Alisha Kramer at his election night party in Atlanta, Tuesday, June 20, 2017.

All the races were on GOP-friendly terrain.

Pelosi allies have pushed back at the blame game, and pointed to the improvement Democrats had in other special elections in Kansas, Montana and SC as evidence that their efforts to harness the resistance against Trump was working.

Pelosi's comments come in the wake of new challenges to her leadership.

Democrats supportive of Pelosi have long argued that even if she stepped aside, Republicans would demonize any new leader the party elevated.

"Obviously people are very concerned about where we are and they want to have a conversation about where we need to be", Rep. Tim Ryan of OH told reporters about why the group got together. Pelosi was a central figure in the millions of dollars in ads Republicans ran against Ossoff, even though Ossoff had never even committed to supporting Pelosi as Minority Leader.

"I certainly hope the Democrats do not force Nancy P out. That would be very bad for the Republican Party - and please let Cryin' (Senate Minority Leader) Chuck (Schumer) stay!"

Pelosi brushed off the tweet, contending that Trump hadn't actually written it himself because "it's a classic Republican line". "It's about St. Francis", Pelosi said, arguing that Republicans might treat her differently if she did not represent San Francisco. It's not fair. It's not accurate in its attacks on our leader, but it's effective.

On Thursday, Pelosi fielded several questions at her weekly briefing about calls by some in her party for her to step down after the recent losses.

Both Reps. Kathleen Rice, R-N.Y.

Following Ossoff's loss, Democrats were quick to point out that the Georgia district was gerrymandered, that it had been in Republican hands since Newt Gingrich held the seat, and that Handle won a close race, while her Republican predecessor had won by a large margin.

Pelosi's allies have pointed out that numerous negative impressions that Republicans have of her are equally true of House Speaker Paul Ryan among Democratic voters.

In the Ossoff race, even though the 30-year-old documentary filmmaker and former congressional staffer ended up running a more centrist and not Trump-centric campaign, Republicans were able to zero in on the more than $23 million in donations Ossoff raised, largely from liberal enclaves like California and NY, and make an easy connection to Pelosi. A defiant Pelosi said she's "worth the trouble".

Is Pelosi the proper scapegoat for all the woes of the Democratic party in the Trump era? Others have privately said Pelosi weighs down Democrats and could prevent the party from retaking the House in the upcoming midterm elections.

In a letter to her colleagues on Wednesday about the special elections, Pelosi maintained an upbeat tone. "They don't have Clinton or Obama, so this is what they do".

Most of the blame has been shifted towards Pelosi.