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WASHINGTON — Memo to Nancy Pelosi: Take a hike.
House Democrats who were booted by voters in last week’s midterm elections took a parting shot at the controversial House speaker, demanding that she abandon her bid for the minority-leader post to give them a fighting chance to win back their seats in two years.
“Many of us want the chance to run again and reclaim the seats that we lost on Tuesday. With you as the leader of House Democrats, the hangover of 2010 stands no chance of subsiding,” read a letter to Pelosi (Calif.) being circulated among more than 60 House Democrats ousted in the midterm elections.
“One mark of a strong leader is the ability to discern when it is time to pass the baton,” it read.
The letter warned that Pelosi’s “demonized” image could cripple not only their future campaigns to reclaim their House seats but also efforts to recruit new Democratic candidates.
“Unfortunately, we fear that Republicans will further demonize you, and in so doing they will scare potential candidates out,” the letter said. “The prospect of having to run against their own party leadership in addition to their Republican opponent is simply too daunting.”
Pelosi supporters did not take the letter too seriously, since no one has publicly signed on to it. And defeated members won’t have a vote in leadership elections expected next week.
The speaker’s office declined comment.
In a letter to her colleagues last weekend, Pelosi said she found “extensive and enthusiastic support” for her leadership bid.
But several Democrats who won re-election have come out against Pelosi, including Indiana Rep. Joe Donnelly and North Carolina Rep. Heath Shuler — two survivors of the House’s conservative Blue Dog coalition that was wiped out in the election.
Many Democrats, including most of the New York City delegation, have not yet declared their loyalty.