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Wasserman Schultz to head Dems’ incumbent retention |
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By Aaron Blake
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Posted: 12/08/08 04:38 PM [ET] |
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) was handed perhaps the most important vice chairmanship in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Commmittee (DCCC) on Monday, taking on incumbent retention in the cycle ahead.
Democrats are emphasizing their current members first in a cycle in which the party of the president typically loses seats.
Wasserman Schultz is a veteran of the DCCC, having chaired the Red to Blue program for challengers and open-seat candidates the last two cycles and the Frontline program for the most endangered incumbents last cycle.
She was thought to be a potential successor for Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who instead has decided to stay on for a second term as chairman.
Democrats will hold 257 of the 435 seats in the House in the next cycle, many of them in conservative-leaning districts.
Van Hollen said, “The DCCC is focused on preserving our gains this cycle. Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s battle-tested leadership will be a real asset to our members facing tough reelections.” |
