Rep. Heath Shuler plans to vote for himself rather than Rep. Nancy Pelosi during Wednesday’s floor vote for Speaker, and he predicted Monday that Democratic colleagues who are similarly displeased with her past leadership as Speaker would back him as well…

Defections from Pelosi to another Democrat would be symbolic only: Republicans have the votes to elect their designate, John Boehner (Ohio), as Speaker by a wide margin. But Shuler and his allies have argued that it is important to send a message to the leadership.

“I think it’s significant,” said a senior Democratic aide with ties to moderate members. “We all need to move forward, but that doesn’t mean that people have forgotten how many of their colleagues aren’t here with them.”