Pelosi says 5 states will lift House Democrats

By ELLIOT SPAGAT

The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi predicts that five large states will put Democrats in striking distance of gaining control of the House after the November elections.

Pelosi said Friday in San Diego that she expects gains in California, Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas will leave Democrats only about a half-dozen seats short.

She declined to predict how many seats she anticipates picking up, saying only that she will be happy with 25. That's how many Democrats need to gain control of the House.

Pelosi says President Barack Obama won't campaign in four of her five target states because they are not presidential battlegrounds. Florida is the exception.

Pelosi spoke with reporters on the opening day of the California Democratic Convention.

___

February 10, 2012 07:56 PM EST

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.