Whom Will Pelosi Back in ’08?

If the race for the Democratic nomination for president in 2008 comes down to a contest between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, the support of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could prove crucial.

Pelosi is not endorsing any candidate right now — and may never make an official endorsement, according to Josephine Hearn of Politico.com.

Both Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama aided House Democrats in the 2006 elections and helped Pelosi become speaker, and both distinguished themselves with their fund-raising efforts for other Democrats.

“But some question whether Pelosi would ever support Sen. Clinton given their deep differences over the Iraq war,” Hearn writes. “Clinton voted for it in 2002. Pelosi voted against it . . . Obama has hewed closer to Pelosi in opposing the Iraq war.”

Pelosi is being guarded for the moment. Asked for her opinion of the Democratic field, she said simply: “I think they’re all great.”