CNN: Quigley Weighs in on Leadership Races for 116th Congress
BLITZER: Let's talk a little bit about the future of the overall House of Representatives. Nancy Pelosi, do you support her as the next Speaker of the House?
QUIGLEY: I do. an extraordinary position. I think it's getting tougher in our polarized climate. Let's just look at what happened: Republicans were in control, they had more seats in their -- under their control since the Hoover administration, and what did they do? In a close period of time they virtually ran two Speakers out of town. No one wanted to ever not be Speaker of the House until we've had this current climate. I think Nancy Pelosi did an extraordinary job getting the healthcare law passed, but beyond all that, I don't think the American public elected a Democratic majority in the House based on who was going to be the Speaker. I think the focus after this, and it will get sorted out, will be on these issues.
BLITZER: But you know there's at least 17 new Democrats now who say they won't vote for her, and if you do the math, she can't get 218.
QUIGLEY: Well, I think a lot of things have to be sorted out in the next couple of weeks. I'm certain that they will, and I think -- I would remind my colleagues that we're going to focus on the issues, not necessarily who is the leader.
BLITZER: Because there's 17 plus another 5, and there's going to be some more Democrats, another three Democrats who just won in very close contests in Republican-held districts.
QUIGLEY: Processes like this have a give and take and an ebb and flow. I would like to think it will be well decided well before the time we come back.
BLITZER: So you think some of those Democrats who signed this letter saying they wouldn't vote for her will flip and actually vote for her?
QUIGLEY: I'm not sure exactly how it's going to work out but I'm sure the process will sort itself out. We'll appoint the next speaker, I frankly think it will be Nancy Pelosi. No one knows how to count votes better than our leader.
BLITZER: Mike Quigley, thanks for coming in.
QUIGLEY: Thank you.