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Two key House Democrats, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, held a press conference this afternoon to discuss the status of the financial bailout bill.

Pelosi said that "great progress is being made" towards a deal, though she suggested that yesterday's bipartisan summit at the White House was not helpful.

"I would not include yesterday among the days that we've made progress," Pelosi said, suggesting that there was an "intervening event that set up back, took time, and now we're back on track."

The comment appeared to be a shot at GOP nominee John McCain, whose decision to suspend his campaign and return to Washington to help out with the deal, since reversed, was not welcomed by Democrats involved in the negotiations.

Frank was more direct.

Work can continue on the deal “now that Sen. McCain is safely in Mississippi" for the debate, he said.

Frank suggested he expected a deal to be reached by Sunday. He has criticized McCain's behavior this week, suggesting the GOP nominee's call to postpone tonight's debate was "the longest Hail Mary pass in the history of either football or Marys."

UPDATE: The Republican National Committee's Alex Conant responds: "In a moment of national crisis what the American people want and expect and deserve leaders who put politics aside like John McCain did this week. It’s unfortunate that the Democratic leaders continue to put politics first and attack John McCain’s leadership.”

(DENVER) “Are you ready to unleash the power of women to take our country back?” asked EMILY’s list founder Ellen Malcolm at the organization’s gala in the Sheraton Denver hotel Tuesday afternoon.

Before a crowd made up largely of liberal women, Malcolm encouraged the crowd to support the Democratic ticket, prompting a cheer when she noted that both Barack Obama and Joe Biden are pro-choice. The crowd really got going, however, when she mentioned another Democrat who’s been making headlines at the Democratic National Convention this week.

“Hillary,” Malcolm said loudly, “you make us proud.”

Clinton came to the podium about a half hour later, to a rapturous welcome from the crowd. The New York senator noted that today is the anniversary of the day when women were given the right to vote, saying, “there could not be a better day to celebrate the power of the women’s vote.”

Clinton urged the crowd to support the Democratic ticket.

“Barack and Joe will champion the issues we care about,” she said, telling the crowd “they will stand with us and they will fight for us.”

She also targeted presumptive GOP nominee John McCain.

“He still doesn’t believe that women deserve equal pay for equal work,” Clinton said. “He doesn’t believe that women deserve the right to choose. He would turn the clock back, and what we need from our president is forward movement.”

“The choice facing women in this election could not be clearer,” Clinton added. “The stakes could not be higher.” She urged her supporters to “work as hard for Barack Obama as you did for me in the next months. “

The former first lady left the stage soon after, saying she had to work on the speech she will be giving at the Pepsi Center later tonight.

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At a breakfast this morning sponsored by The Christian Science Monitor, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested that Hillary Clinton had to deal with sexism during her failed bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"My impression is, yes, there was sexism. My knowledge is, yes, there is sexism because there has been," Pelosi said, with a laugh, according to the New York Times. "I myself find that I get a tremendous upside being a woman, and I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about sexist remarks that people make.”

“I’m a victim of sexism myself all the time,” Pelosi said.

Clinton and her supporters have suggested that media coverage of the race reflected a sexist attitude on the part of the press, and some in the media – including CBS "Evening News" anchor Katie Couric – have backed up that claim.

“Like her or not, one of the great lessons of that campaign is the continued, and accepted, role of sexism in American life, particularly in the media," Couric said in a Web video, contrasting the coverage of Barack Obama to that of Clinton.

Pelosi did see positives in Clinton's run, saying this morning that "Senator Clinton has advanced the cause of women in government and her candidacy has been a very positive tonic for the country and had a very wholesome effect on the political process.”

She added that Clinton benefited from women being “wildly enthusiastic” about her run, according to the Times.

Four prominent Democratic leaders have released a statement urging the remaining undeclared superdelegates to back a presidential candidate by the end of the week.

“We have come to the end of an exciting primary and caucus process – the voters have spoken," write Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Governors Association Chairman Joe Manchin and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean.

“Democrats must now turn our full attention to the general election," they continue. "To that end, we are urging all remaining uncommitted super delegates to make their decisions known by Friday of this week so that our party can stand united and begin our march toward reversing the eight years of failed Bush/McCain policies that have weakened our country."

After last night, Barack Obama has the delegates he needs to claim the mantle of presumptive nominee. The statement released this morning appears to be an attempt to leave the superdelegate saga behind and help create a unified front for the battle with John McCain.

“We once again congratulate all of the candidates for their leadership and dedication to providing this country with a New Direction," the party leaders conclude. "We look forward to working with them and with all Democrats to win the White House, congressional seats and state capitals so we can deliver the change the American people deserve and demand.”

As CBS News' Fernando Suarez reports, the Clinton campaign today emailed reporters regarding signing up for travel with the campaign through June 6th – three days after the final primary, and two days after many political observers expect Clinton to leave the Democratic race.

But while Clinton may be sending a signal that she is going to stay in the race beyond the end of the primaries and perhaps through to the Democratic National Convention, the leaders of her party have other ideas.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today said in a radio interview that he, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and DNC Chairman Howard Dean "agree there won’t be a fight at the convention." CBS News' Michelle Levi reports that Reid said "simple math indicates that...Obama will probably have the necessary number" of delegates he needs to become the party's nominee by Tuesday, June 3rd, when the primaries wrap up.

The three party leaders are pushing uncommitted superdelegates to back a candidate sooner rather than later in order to avoid a convention fight, Reid said, in case matters aren't settled on Tuesday. Pelosi is reportedly already contacting superdelegates in order to convince them to declare their allegiance by next week.

At her weekly press conference today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi weighed in on the possibility of a so-called Democratic "dream ticket" featuring both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

The verdict? Such a union simply isn't "politically feasible," Pelosi said. She called an Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama ticket "impossible."

Asked to elaborate, Pelosi said it was "up to [the press] to interpret" her comments. But she said they grew out of "a lifetime of political gut."

Pelosi also said there would be a "dream ticket" of Democrats – just not one involving the two frontrunners.

“Take it from me, that won’t be the ticket,” she said.

At her weekly press conference today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi weighed in on the possibility of a so-called Democratic "dream ticket" featuring both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

The verdict? Such a union simply isn't "politically feasible," Pelosi said. She called an Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama ticket "impossible."

Asked to elaborate, Pelosi said it was "up to [the press] to interpret" her comments. But she said they grew out of "a lifetime of political gut."

Pelosi also said there would be a "dream ticket" of Democrats – just not one involving the two frontrunners.

“Take it from me, that won’t be the ticket,” she said.

At her weekly press conference today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi weighed in on the possibility of a so-called Democratic "dream ticket" featuring both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

The verdict? Such a union simply isn't "politically feasible," Pelosi said. She called an Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama ticket "impossible."

Asked to elaborate, Pelosi said it was "up to [the press] to interpret" her comments. But she said they grew out of "a lifetime of political gut."

Pelosi also said there would be a "dream ticket" of Democrats – just not one involving the two frontrunners.

“Take it from me, that won’t be the ticket,” she said.