SNEAK PEEK: Pelosi Says Delegates Will Decide

March 14, 2008— -- Nancy Pelosi told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos on Friday that it would be "harmful" to Democrats if superdelegates were to give the party's presidential nomination to a candidate who is trailing in the delegates awarded in primaries and caucuses.

"If the votes of the superdelegates overturn what's happened in the elections," said Pelosi, "it would be harmful to the Democratic Party."

Although Pelosi offered her assessment without directly referencing Barack Obama, her comments lend considerable support to the Illinois Democrat.

Obama leads Hillary Clinton in pledged delegates: 1,396 to 1,241. Because of the proportional system used by the Democratic Party to allocate delegates, Obama is widely expected to remain in front of Clinton in pledged delegates at the conclusion of the primary season.

Political prognosticators give Clinton more of a chance of catching, or even surpassing, Obama in the national popular vote but Pelosi argued that superdelegates should follow the pledged-delegate, not the popular-vote, leader.

"But what if one candidate has won the popular vote and the other candidate has won the delegates?" asked Stephanopoulos.

"But it's a delegate race," Pelosi replied. "The way the system works is that the delegates choose the nominee."

Michigan Gang of Four Push Re-Vote Proposal:

Debbie Dingell, one of four powerful Michigan Democrats working to find a way to seat the state's delegates at the Democratic National Convention without a credentials fight, issued a statement Friday laying out the parameters of a possible compromise.

"At this time," wrote Dingell, "we are focusing on the possibility of a state-run primary in early June, which would not use any state funding.  This option would require the passage of legislation by the State Legislature, and we look forward to working with the members of the Legislature in the coming days to see if this option can be made a reality."

The Michigan Democratic Party, Clinton campaign, and the Republican who leads the state senate, all reacted positively on Friday to the proposal.

The Obama campaign, which has more to lose from a re-vote, reacted tepidly.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton promised to evaluate "carefully" any new proposal to come to a "fair seating" of the delegates from Michigan while accusing Clinton of "trying to change the rules."

Revved Up:

Obama took to the Huffington Post on Friday to criticize "inflammatory and appalling remarks" made by his controversial former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

"I vehemently disagree and strongly condemn the statements that have been the subject of this controversy," wrote Obama. "I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies. I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it's on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issue."

The sugerdelegate battle continues on the trail and in the halls of Congress. LINK

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Watch "This Week" for George Stephanopoulos' full interview with Speaker Pelosi. LINK

'The Note' Rewinds the Week's Best Moments
ABC News' Senior Political Reporter Rick Klein on the weekly political roundup. LINK

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The Week in Politics
Cokie Roberts and Matthew Dowd break down the moments that mattered. LINK

Candidates Make Their Case
Sens. Obama and Clinton tout their foreign policy experience. LINK

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