Top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi throws her weight behind Clinton - but warns 'it's not over until it's over'

The top Democrat in the House of Representatives endorsed Hillary Clinton today as California voters prepared to head to the polls.

Nancy Pelosi, the first female speaker of the House, said on Good Morning America that she didn't back Clinton sooner because she didn't want to be perceived as tipping the scales given her role as a party leader.

The California lawmaker seemingly changed her mind following the Associated Press' definitive declaration on Monday evening that Clinton would be the Democratic nominee.

'I'm a voter in California, and I have voted for Hillary Clinton for President of the United States and proud to endorse her for that position,' Pelosi said. 'But I hasten to say, that it's not over until it's over.' 

The top Democrat in the House of Representatives endorsed Hillary Clinton today as California voters prepared to head to the polls.

Nancy Pelosi, the first female speaker of the House, said on Good Morning America that she didn't back Clinton sooner because she didn't want to be perceived as tipping the scales in her favor given her role as a party leader

However, the California lawmaker said this morning, following the Associated Press' declaration on Monday evening that Clinton would definitively be the Democratic nominee, 'I'm a voter in California and I have voted for Hillary Clinton for president of the United States and proud to endorse her for that position

Californians have not finished voting, she said, nor have five other states with contests today: New Jersey, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and New Mexico. 

So while the numbers add up to a Clinton victory in terms superdelegates, Pelosi noted that the presidential race is still ongoing,

As the House minority leader, Pelosi automatically gets a vote at the convention. She told GMA that she held off on announcing her support for Clinton because she believes the voters should decide the nominee, not party officials.

'I didn't endorse yet because I am a superdelegate,' she said. 

In keeping with that, Pelosi did not call on Senator Bernie Sanders to drop his challenge to Clinton this morning. She implied that he may do it on his own once voting is complete.

'Let's see what happens. I think he's also said, "Let's see what happens tonight, and we'll go from there." ' she said. 'Bernie knows better than anyone what's on the line in the election and that we at some point have to unify as we go forward,' she said. 

Sanders, an independent senator who became a Democrat last year to run for president, can't win unless a majority of the 712 superdelegates change their minds about supporting Clinton, a former first lady with strong ties to the Democratic Party.

There's no evidence to suggest that is going to happen. 

For weeks Sanders has argued on the trail that the Democratic establishment ought to make way for him to become the nominee because he is the strongest candidate. And yet, only a trickle of superdelegates have come his way.

Clinton's support from those party leaders who vote at the July convention became strong enough on Monday for AP and several news networks to name her the nominee before today's elections. 

The final primary will be held in Washington, D.C. next Tuesday on July 14. Democratic officials have been content to let him stay in until then, but have grown impatient with his pledges to stay in the race until the Philadelphia convention.

'He wants to influence the platform. I think that’s fine,' Pelosi said today as she gave him her blessing to stay in until every American has had a chance to vote. 'I think he'll go forward in a way that is constructive to the party.'

She suggested that 'constructive' way forward would include conceding to Clinton after that so that the party can begin its quest to defeat Donald Trump in November.

'I've never seen such a polarized situation with the Republican Party,' she reflected.

As the first female speaker of the House, Pelosi said Clinton's candidacy is 'exciting.'

She meanwhile emphasized to George Stephanopoulos there's more to her support for the ex-secretary of state than that.

'It's wonderful that she's a woman,' she said. 'However it's because she's the best. not because she's a woman.'

Pelosi said it would be 'fabulous' if Clinton should pick a woman as her running mate such as Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren while leaving the decision up to Clinton.

'We've had two men over and over again for hundreds of years, 'she told Stephanopoulos.'I think that two women, whoever they may be, that would be fabulous as well, but Hillary Clinton will choose the person that she feels most comfortable with."