A Redux Convention for Lady of the House

Still, she conceded, "I am, as a matter of fact," the expert on party rules. Following them, she added, is "a good idea."

"Nancy and I both well remember the agony that we went through (in 1984). We always take up knotty issues, as we may well again," said Charles T. Manatt, who was the party chairman then.

"She would look people in the eye and say, 'Here's what the rules say, and here's how we interpret the rules.' We defused most of it," Manatt added.

In advance of the 1984 convention, it fell to Pelosi to take a hard line against New Hampshire and Iowa as they threatened to and then did schedule their contests earlier than party rules allowed. She and Manatt staunchly argued that rules were rules, and refused to make an exception for the two states. Ultimately, though, the party caved and allowed the delegations to be seated.

This year, however, counting Michigan and Florida where both candidates agreed not to participate but Clinton won could well sway who gets the nomination. Clinton says the delegates should count; Obama says they shouldn't unless there's a revote or the two can agree on an equal distribution, neither of which appears likely.

Pelosi "happily is the gavel of the convention, but not the gavel of the (rules) committee," Manatt said. "It's all of our problem, but everyone's got their different jobs, and this time she is not in that spot."

Still, Pelosi's expertise and her position make her a major player in the outcome of both the Michigan-Florida dispute and the superdelegate situation.

"Her stake in this election goes beyond the selection of the nominee. There's a very important and compelling interest in not only keeping but strengthening the majority in the House, and who our candidate is for president will impact that substantially, and how we get there will affect it," said Democratic strategist Tad Devine, a delegate specialist unaffiliated with either campaign.

If voters in Michigan and Florida feel slighted, Democratic congressional candidates there could face a tougher road.

Similarly, many strategists fear a nomination fight resolved by party poobahs would look bad for Democrats, who pride themselves on being the party of ordinary people.