Democratic spokeswoman Jennifer Crider said she doesn't think the anti-Pelosi strategy will work. Similar efforts failed in 2006 and 2008, she said, because voters care mainly about issues in their district and the choice between two candidates on their ballot.
Some Democrats say the attacks on Pelosi have a whiff of sexism, and female voters may push back if Republicans go too far.
Democratic leaders with lower profiles and more moderate records can go into districts that Pelosi will avoid. For instance, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., is spending August campaigning for candidates in Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, Mississippi, Kansas and Washington state.
On the Republican side, House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio will campaign for more than 30 candidates in 17 states, his staff said.
Although Boehner probably will be speaker if Republicans take control of the House after elections this fall, he is far less recognizable nationally than Pelosi. That's why Republicans such as LaCivita think Boehner can travel the country with less baggage.
To millions of voters, LaCivita said, Pelosi "is the representative of Congress and, frankly, everything that is wrong with Congress."
Democrats hope Pelosi can keep raking in the money while voters decide House races at the local level.
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PickyBiker of TX 8:07PM August 15, 2010