Former President Barack Obama praised Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), saying she “will go down as one of the most effective legislative leaders that this country’s ever seen,” the Washington Post reports.

He added: “Nancy is not always the best on a cable show or with a quick soundbite or what have you. But her skill, tenacity, toughness, vision, is remarkable. Her stamina, her ability to see around corners, her ability to stand her ground and do hard things and to suffer unpopularity to get the right thing done, I think, stands up against any person that I’ve observed or worked directly with in Washington during my lifetime.”

New York Times: “What if House Democrats tried to stage a coup and nobody showed up?”

“That is the predicament facing Democrats as a quiet rebellion simmers in their ranks to block Representative Nancy Pelosi of California from being speaker. Inside the Capitol and at nearby watering holes and restaurants, there are hopeful whispers among a small band of Democrats that a fresh-faced new leader will come forward to challenge Ms. Pelosi, who has led House Democrats for 15 years.”

“But so far, no one has emerged to take her on.”

Washington Post: “While congressional leadership fights have historically revolved around insular matters such as committee assignments and rules changes, the battle over who will lead the newly empowered House Democrats has exploded into a national political campaign.”

“At stake is not merely the House speakership, a job second in line to the presidency, but who will emerge as the country’s most high-profile counterpoint to President Trump — who will set the strategy for investigating him, who will lead the opposition to his agenda, and who will be the face of the Democratic Party ahead of the 2020 campaign.”

“The country’s biggest unions, arguing that Pelosi is the best equipped to take on Trump, have lobbied Democrats to back her. Top donors have placed calls to lean on undecided members. Celebrities have weighed in as well, and prominent liberal activists have openly discussed fomenting primary challenges in the next campaign against the leaders of the anti-Pelosi opposition.“

“Oh please, no. Never. Never. Never.”

— Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), quoted by Roll Call, saying she intends to win the speakership with Democratic votes and would not accept help from help from Republicans.

President Trump tweeted that Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) would be elected again as House Speaker, adding that she “deserves” the post.

Said Trump: “I can get Nancy Pelosi as many votes as she wants in order for her to be Speaker of the House. She deserves this victory, she has earned it — but there are those in her party who are trying to take it away. She will win!”

“Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), the hard-charging Marine who served four tours of duty in Iraq is leading the challenge to Rep. Nancy Pelosi and her bid for speaker — and is suddenly taking incoming fire from all quarters,” the Washington Post reports.

“Prominent liberal activists are openly floating a primary challenge to the two-term Massachusetts congressman, the instigator of the nearly 20 Democratic foes to Pelosi and one who helped recruit several of the incoming freshmen opposing her.”

“Inside the House, Moulton’s ambition and sharp elbows have long been a subject of his colleagues’ grumbling, and his latest fusillade at Pelosi — this time, after a sweeping electoral win — has angered even some of his admirers.”

Playbook: “There are 48 days until Nancy Pelosi is scheduled to face a floor vote for the speakership, and she is facing resistance like never before. If you talk to Pelosi and her staff, she’ll be the speaker. If you talk to the rebels — the 20 or so Democrats who want her out — they say they will take their opposition to the floor and block her from returning to the speakership.”

“But here is how Pelosi could hang on: Most everyone says she would win handily if she just simply says when she’d leave. Pelosi has said she wants a “transitional” speakership, but if she gave a date certain — ‘I intend to serve until ____’ — she’d win without much hassle, according to supporters and opponents. Of course, that would be close to a last resort. And there certainly are other ways she could win. But several ‘NeverPelosi’ers’ say it would be hard to oppose her if she says she’d leave at a date certain in the next two years.”

NBC News: “While Pelosi is remains the heavy favorite to be her party’s choice when House Democrats hold their leadership elections in less than two weeks, the hurdles for her are higher than many expected.”

Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) told the Washington Post that she has been “overwhelmed” by the support from many of her colleagues for her possible entry into the race for House speaker, becoming the first Democrat to publicly acknowledge a challenge to longtime party leader Nancy Pelosi.

Said Fudge: “Over the last 12 hours, I’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of support I’ve received.”

She added that there are “probably closer to 30” Democrats who have privately signaled that they are willing to oppose Pelosi.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) “swiped at her critics, vowing in no uncertain terms to vanquish her opponents and become speaker in the next Congress,” Politico reports.

“The California Democrat brushed aside Rep. Seth Moulton’s suggestion Tuesday night that he is ‘100 percent confident‘ that she does not have the votes to be speaker.”

Said Pelosi: “I’m a busy person, but I will be the speaker of the House no matter what he said.”

First Read: “By the way, for Pelosi, there are some ways around the current Dem opposition to her regaining the speakership. For one thing, some new and old members might vote against Pelosi in the closed-door caucus meeting on November 28 – where she needs only a simple majority from her own party – and still vote for her on the floor on January 3, when she needs a majority of ALL members to become speaker.”

“Also on January 3, Pelosi opponents could vote ‘present,’ reducing the magic number she needs to capture a majority.”

“None of us is indispensable, but some of us are just better at our jobs than others.”

— Rep. Nancy Pelosi, in a CNN interview.

“Nancy Pelosi is making gender a central part of her bid to reclaim the speaker’s gavel — leaning hard into the pitch that Democrats cannot oust the only woman at their leadership table following a historic election for women,” Politico reports.

“In addition to arguing she’s the best qualified for the job, the California Democrat and her allies are also framing a Pelosi victory as a matter of protecting political progress for women at a critical moment. Push her out, and men may take over the party at a time when more than 100 women are heading to Capitol Hill and after women voters have been thoroughly alienated by President Donald Trump. Embrace her, and she’ll prioritize legislation empowering women from equal pay to anti-harassment legislation.”

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi “is moving aggressively to snuff out a challenge from some lawmakers who are demanding new party leadership, while powerful allies outside Congress are helping rally support for her bid for speaker,” the Washington Post reports

“Pelosi has yet to clinch the necessary votes and is leaving nothing to chance, according to members and aides familiar with her approach. She is encouraging outside groups to speak up on her behalf while personally talking to the Democrats who will choose the next speaker on Jan. 3.”