Daring Debbie Delivers?

McClatchy's Lesley Clark has a profile of Florida Dem Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the Congresswoman tapped to take over the DNC and lead the donks' fundraising efforts for 2012.

Now the hard-charging 44-year-old, a Democratic rising star since she was elected at age 26 to the Florida state House of Representatives, is poised for her biggest role yet: President Barack Obama's choice to head the Democratic National Committee, a crucial part of his efforts to win another term. The one-time congressional staffer will be the third woman to hold the post when the DNC meets Wednesday to ratify Obama's decision.

Democratic strategists say Wasserman Schultz relishes going toe to toe with Republicans on issues she's passionate about, a factor that attracted the White House as it preps for a campaign that promises to be a bruiser.

"The fact that she's tough and doesn't back down is a really important strength that's going to be needed," said Karen Finney, a former national spokeswoman for the DNC. "This is not going to be an easy battle."

Wasserman Schultz chalks up her selection to a "range of skills and attributes that I think will be complementary to our needs."


"Florida is a hugely important state; women are hugely important to our success," she told McClatchy in an interview. "I'm a young mom, a good fundraiser and I can put a sentence together."

Just as important are Wasserman Schultz's doggedness, her comfort with the television camera and, as a lively liberal, her ability to re-energize part of the Democratic base that's been frustrated with Obama and stayed home in 2010. 

And again, that's exactly the kind of thing the bloodless DNC under Tim Kaine needed:  somebody with a pulse.  But it's that last part there that's the problem:  energizing the firebaggers to get them back in the fold in 2012, that's going to be the hard sell.  Schultz is an outstanding fundraiser and communicator.  But her legislative record is borderline Blue Dog at best.

However, stumping for and supporting Blue Dogs like Heath Shuler is another thing entirely.  Now that she's in charge of the entire ball of wax, it would be very nice to see her support true Dems that need the help instead of pouring cash into the laps of corporate Blue Dogs like Shuler.  Somehow, I don't think it's going to happen, which is a shame.

Reading between the lines of her interview on the health care reform 18 months ago with Cenk Uygur and given where that vote went is especially informative in hindsight.  She brings strong progressive credentials and words to the table.  But her actions?  Classic Blue Dog.

Keeping an eye on her.