Nancy Pelosi Sidesteps On De Blasio's Presidential Ambitions

NEW YORK — The nation's most powerful Democrat isn't speaking about Mayor Bill de Blasio's presidential ambitions. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi declined to weigh in Wednesday on de Blasio's possible White House run, suggesting she may say more when he gets "serious" about it.

"As I always say, when somebody is serious about running I’ll be serious about commenting on it," Pelosi told reporters on the Lower East Side.

"I think the mayor is serious about it, but when he makes his announcement then I’ll answer your question," the California congresswoman added.

Pelosi's sidestep followed de Blasio's recent treks to the key presidential primary states of Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire. The Democratic mayor has repeatedly said that he is not ruling out a long-shot presidential campaign, even though some of of his allies reportedly think he shouldn't jump into the crowded field.

If he enters the race, de Blasio would join more than a dozen Democrats vying to unseat President Donald Trump in 2020. Pelosi has served in the House with two of them: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii and former Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas.

WCBS reporter Marcia Kramer's query to Pelosi drew laughter from the speaker and others. "New York press corps is very welcoming," de Blasio said after the question was asked. But the mayor praised her response, saying it was "well handled."

The question came at a rally where de Blasio, Pelosi and New York representatives pushed for the American Dream and Promise Act. The recently introduced bill, co-sponsored by several local House members, would allow more than 2 million immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to stay here and give thousands more with temporary protected status a chance to become permanent residents, according to the National Immigration Forum.

De Blasio recalled his grandparents' move to the U.S. from small towns in southern Italy as he expressed support for the bill. Immigrants have helped New York City become "stronger, safer and more prosperous," he said.

"There’s a blunt reality that we have to face in this country, that we have to either accept that immigration has made us strong across generations and generations, regardless of race or country of origin, or we’re going to live in a hypocrisy," de Blasio said.