Outside the Beltway

With Tim Kaine running for Virginia Senate, the Democrats have tapped Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz to head the Democratic National Committee:

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) is expected to be named chair of the Democratic National Committee later Tuesday, top Democratic sources said. Wasserman Schultz was chosen for her strength as a fund-raiser and as a television messenger, and for her clout in the crucial swing state of Florida, the sources said. She will succeed Tim Kaine, who announced earlier Tuesday that he will run for U.S. Senate from Virginia. The final choice, made by President Barack Obama, came down to her and former Ohio governor Ted Strickland, the sources said

Interesting choice. It will be, I believe, the first time a major political party was headed by a woman. (See correction below)

Update: I was incorrect. Mary Louise Smith headed the Republican National Committee from 1974-1977, which incidentally couldn’t have been very easy. Additionally, Debra DeLee headed the Democratic National Committee from 1994-1995

US Politics

Barack Obama, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Democratic National Committee, Democrats, Florida, Ohio, Republican National Committee, Tim Kaine, Virginia

11 responses to “Debbie Wasserman-Schultz To Replace Tim Kaine At DNC”

Ryan Gleason

April 5, 2011 at 5:16 pm

Mary Louise Smith headed up the RNC in the mid-70’s.
wr

April 5, 2011 at 5:17 pm

She’s a great choice, the best since Dean. She’s smart and tough, a real fighter. As a lifelong Democrat and frustrated liberal, I couldn’t be happier.
Ryan Gleason

April 5, 2011 at 5:19 pm

And, Debra DeLee got the top slot at the DNC in the 90’s. I had forgotten about this one but in confirming my memory about Mary Louise Smith there was a reference that she was one of two.
Doug Mataconis

April 5, 2011 at 5:27 pm

Ryan,

Thanks. I’ve updated the post
Kylopod

April 5, 2011 at 6:00 pm

Well, for what it’s worth, the first Jewish woman.
TG Chicago

April 5, 2011 at 10:40 pm

Wow. I mentioned lazy writing in another post. How hard is it to take 30 seconds of Googling to make sure you’re right before posting that she’s the first woman?
Tsar Nicholas II

April 5, 2011 at 10:41 pm

Being named DNC Chair is like winning a contest at the Special Olympics.
An Interested Party

April 5, 2011 at 11:06 pm

Being named DNC Chair is like winning a contest at the Special Olympics.

Oh really? Funny how the previous RNC chairman could be a poster child for the Special Olympics…on second thought, scratch that…he would lower the bar for all of those who participate in the Special Olympics…
Tano

April 6, 2011 at 12:11 am

aIP,

I do wish you would not feel obliged to follow the morons down into the gutter….
wr

April 6, 2011 at 10:42 am

AIP — The Republicans are going to end up looking back fondly on Steele, once his successor finishes branding his boy Scott Walker as the face of the party — and loses the midwest for conservatives for decades.