(Evan Vucci/AP Photo)

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi predicted today that the Affordable Care Act would be a winning issue for Democrats in swing districts during the 2014 elections.

"You have to ask them, the member, but I believe that it's a winner," Pelosi said.

She rejected the idea that Democrats are running away from defending the Affordable Care Act due to the political ramifications of the law.

"This isn't about politics. This is about the health of America," she said. "We don't weigh its value as to what it means politically. We weigh its value as to what it means to the health, well-being, economic and health security of America's families. Just because people say, I don't want to repeal it, but I do want to fix it, doesn't mean they're walking away from it."

Pelosi, who was holding a rare news conference during a congressional recess week, also corrected a reporter who called the healthcare law "Obamacare."

"By the way, it's called the Affordable Care Act. It's called the Affordable Care Act," Pelosi said. "That's a case we have to make. We're grown-ups."

When the reporter noted President Obama uses the term himself, Pelosi said: "I tell them the same thing I told you."

"Affordable. Affordable. There's a reason. Affordable. Affordable. Affordable. Affordable. Affordable," she said. "The reason they changed the name of it is because they wanted to get away, they - the opponents - from the word 'affordable.' And that's why I'm patient with some of these comments. Whatever it is, it's infinitely more affordable than the path that we were on."

Republicans dubbed Pelosi's event an "hour-long gaffefest disguised as a press conference."

"Even Pelosi - the architect of ObamaCare - can't explain the benefits of a law that is growing more unpopular by the day," said NRCC spokesman Matt Gorman.