Keep telling yourself that, Nancy.

(The Hill) — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Thursday that Democrats have a shot at taking back the House in 2012.

The former Speaker touted the diversity of the candidates the Democrats have recruited — “two generals, a colonel . . . legislators, small business people, mayors, many women and minorities” — and noted that the party, despite being the minority, has outraised the Republicans on the campaign trail this year.

“We have definitely put the House in play,” she said during her weekly press briefing in the Capitol.

“From a political standpoint, we’re very proud of the recruitment of candidates — all with the determination to take us off the path that the Republicans have put us on,” she said.

“Not to talk money,” she added, “but we outraised the Republicans for the first three-quarters of the year.”