Debbie Wassermn Schultz is ramping up her efforts and signaling she wants to run for the Senate in 2016 -- a disastrous scenario for Democrats.
At first glance, a Wasserman Schultz Senate campaign has some merit, especially if Marco Rubio runs for president instead of a second term. Nobody doubts Wasserman Schultzs fundraising prowess and she should be able to keep most of the other Democrats looking at running -- Alan Grayson, Gwen Graham, Ted Deutch, Patrick Murphy, Charlie Crist -- out of the race based on that alone. She is also well-known from her various media appearances as chair of the DNC. To be sure, Wasserman Schultz should be able to count on the help of her old ally Hillary Clinton in 2016.
But there are major problems, as well. Wasserman Schultzs role as DNC chair requires her to play up partisanship, something that wont work with independent voters. During her time in the national limelight, Wasserman Schultz has made some major gaffes and missteps. She simply isnt the most natural of politicians.
Wasserman Schultz thinks women will be flocking to the polls in record numbers to vote for Clinton in 2016. But Wasserman Schultz has made this mistake before. Last year, she kept playing up the Republican war on women which did nothing to stop the GOP landslide in November.
While shes been in Congress since winning a seat in 2004, Wasserman Schultz has never really been in an electoral fight outside of her own. She represents a very secure Democrat district and the GOP opponents she has faced have been third-string candidates at best with no hope to win. Some of the potential Republican Senate candidates who could emerge, if Rubio opts out like Jeff Atwater and Adam Putnam, have won statewide races with independent support.
Wasserman Schultz is primed to be a major player in the House Democratic ranks if she stays there but her rivalry with Nancy Pelosi could continue to harm her. Pelosi and Steny Hoyer are both in their 70s, meaning Wasserman Schultz could have decided neither of them is leaving anytime soon or they have someone waiting in the wings to lead the caucus.
Clinton, or whoever the Democrats nominate for president, will need Florida. Wasserman Schultz actually hurts those efforts. She might be able to get her base out in South Florida, admittedly something Crist didnt do last time out, but she would also be a lightning rod for conservatives. There will be plenty of Republicans in Florida who wont be happy with the presidential nominee but they will come out in force to vote against Wasserman Schultz.
Of course, Wasserman Schultz could have an opt-out plan. If she loses and Clinton wins, she is a natural fit for the new administration. Wasserman Schultz could also deep-six her bid if Rubio decides to run for a second term after all. But, despite her fundraising skills, Wasserman Schultz is not the best candidate for Democrats in a year when they badly need Florida. Wasserman Schultz might help pump turnout for Democrats in South Florida but Clinton should have no problem with that already. Nominating Wasserman Schultz for the Senate would bring far more minuses than pluses for the Democrats in 2016.
Tallahassee political writer Jeff Henderson wrote this analysis exclusively for Sunshine State News.
