The possibility that Pelosi might soon hold the most prominent position in American politics after the president and vice president, has many asking how a woman in such a position might change the political landscape.

Gilda Morales, Project Manager at Rutgers University’s Center for American Women and Politics believes that, as a woman and mother of five, Pelosi may be able to speak with more authority and force on domestic issues such as healthcare and education. And like military mom-turned-protester Cindy Sheehan, Pelosi could be more effective questioning the war in Iraq.

“There’s really no benchmark,” Morales said. “There’s no basis to compare what it would be like” to have a woman as House Speaker.

Pelosi has many hurdles to overcome before she assumes the role, however, including the responsibility to raise and allocate money for candidates in races that will decide the outcome of the mid-term elections.

And even if the Democrats do take control of the house, Pelosi will still have to be elected speaker by a majority of her colleagues. Most agree, however, that Pelosi has enough support.

“Nancy Pelosi is absolutely a star politician and star fundraiser,” said Congresswoman Lynne Woolsey of California. “She’ll remain our leader.”

In recent weeks, Pelosi, the outspoken representative from California’s Eighth District, has become a lightning rod for Republican attacks seeking to tie their opponents to the liberal Democratic leader.

“Illegal immigration is out of control,” a recent commercial by Michael “Mac” Collins, a Republican from Georgia, begins, as footage of recent protests for immigrants rights plays in the background. Collins is one of few Republican candidates in the House running to unseat a Democratic incumbent, and polls show him running neck and neck with his opponent, Jim Marshall. “Liberal Democrat leader Nancy Pelosi says amnesty is the answer.” The ad ends, “How do we stop her? Elect Mac Collins.”

Charles Taylor, fighting to hold onto a House seat in North Carolina’s Eleventh District, recently aired a television ad accusing his opponent, Heath Shuler, of being aligned too closely with Pelosi. The ad accuses Shuler, a one-time football star, of sharing “Pelosi’s game plan” to “take over Congress with the votes of illegal immigrants."

And more recently, Representative John Hostetler of Indiana volleyed a radio ad warning that a vote for his opponent Brad Ellsworth would be a vote for a “San Francisco liberal” House majority, headed by Pelosi.

It’s unclear whether the ads are having their desired effect. A Newsweek poll conducted October 20, found that half of the Americans surveyed (49 percent) either did not know who Pelosi was, or weren’t sure how they viewed her. Those who had an opinion of the potential House Speaker were split, 25 percent viewing her favorably, 26 percent unfavorably. The numbers have shifted only slightly since the ads aired.

“Negative association ads are typically designed to stir up their constituency’s voters,” said Dianne Bystrom, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University. Bystrom has focused her research on the coverage of women candidates in the media.

“These ads are intended to scare [Republicans’] supporters so much that they’ll turn out to vote,” said Bystrom. “What makes this most unique is that it’s the first time in a long while that you have a woman targeted in a campaign like this,” she said.

Morales said that expectations for women in politics are often much higher than those for men. She cautioned that, though this may help Pelosi initially, it could make things more difficult for her later.

For her part, Pelosi seems to be aware of the stakes.

"I think the fact that I am a woman will raise expectations in terms of more hope in government,” she recently told the Los Angeles Times. “And I will not disappoint."