Rep. Joe Crowley whose name has been floated as a challenger to Nancy Pelosi lauded the embattled House Democratic leader on Sunday as a “tough cookie” and a modern-day “Caesar.”

“This is one of the smartest and hardest-working members. If we were living during the Roman E mpire, she would be a centurion’s centurion. In fact, I think she would be Caesar. She is a tough cookie, and she is a great strategist as well ,” Crowley (D-NY) told John Catsimatidis on his 970-AM radio show on Sunday.
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Pelosi (D-Calif.) was blamed for the defeats of two Democratic candidates in races last week in Georgia and South Carolina with some in her party even suggesting a change in leadership is needed if they have any hope of winning control of the House in the 2018 mid-term elections.

Crowley, the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said he is “humbled” that he is being considered to lead Democrats, but said he has “nothing but the utmost respect” for the minority leader.

Despite the stinging losses in the presidential election and the recent congressional races, the Queens native said the Democrats are in “rebuilding mode.”

“There is no question after the election, and the results were not what we expected. … I think everyone, to some degree, is trying to find their legs,” Crowley said on

“The Cats Roundtable” on AM 970. “The only opportunity to bring some balance back [to Washington] is through the House of Representatives. We need to pick up 24 seats. And that’s where the focus needs to be.”

He said Democrats can’t go “any lower than we are right now” but predicted they will turn it around in 2018.

“I think what Democrats need to do is to begin the process of once again speaking to the hopes and the dreams of the people we hope we believe we represent,” he said.

“What we need to speak about is the fact that people are struggling out there … they’re concerned about their future,” he added.

Asked about his relationship with President Trump, also a Queens native, Crowley said he doesn’t have one with the commander-in-chief.

“I have absolutely no relationship with President Trump. I met him once about 30 years ago in Queens ,” Crowley said.