Hillary Clinton removed all doubt that America is ready for a woman President.

Question: What has Hillary Clinton’s candidacy meant to you?

Nancy Pelosi: I have to be very honest with you, I, as Speaker of the House, watching more closely my races for the House of Representatives, I did view with great pride the candidacy of Senator Hillary Clinton for President of the United States.

And I think all America either knew or learned that she was ready to be President with her great intellect, her great commitment to a better future, with her stamina to campaign and to be President. I think Hillary Clinton removed all doubt that the American people were ready for a woman President and that the American people made that statement themselves.

But elections are about choices, and people made another choice in the election--I think another excellent choice. I myself was neutral in the race, being the chair of the convention. I would have been happy with either result. It came down to two great choices, although we had several other great choices along the way.

Others will be reviewing this over time, and reviewing what the press said and did, and the rest about Senator Clinton's candidacy. But I have not studied it scientifically to say anything except that she made a great campaign.

And when women are in politics, there are people with their own insecurities who will resort to sexism, sometimes wittingly-- sometimes unwittingly-- always inappropriately.

Recorded on: June 24, 2008