Mitch Perry
A day after Tim Canova, her Democratic Party challenger announced a startling first-quarter fundraising total of $557,000, Florida CD 23 incumbent Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Tuesday that she has surpassed that figure, raising a total of $614,000.
The impressive total indicates that Wasserman Schultz is aware that for the first time since winning office to her Broward County/Miami Dade congressional seat in 2004, she has a serious challenger in Canova.
He has seized upon the antipathy that Wasserman Schultz has generated among a number of Democrats nationwide. As the Democratic National Committee chairwoman since 2011, Wasserman Schultz is followed nationally.
Bernie Sanders supporters, in particular, contend she has rigged this year’s Democratic presidential primary race to favor establishment favorite Hillary Clinton. The perception comes because the DNC originally sanctioned only six debates. Several aired in the not exactly primetime viewing periods of Saturday night.
That perception has grown so strong that Wasserman Schultz was asked by “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah whether she understands the perception that “Sanders is being cockblocked by the DNC.”
“As powerful as that makes me feel, I’m not doing a very good job of rigging the outcome or blocking … anyone from being able to get their message out,” Wasserman Schultz said. “The reality is I have a job as a national party chair that is one that requires a thick skin. It requires me to absorb the body blows so our candidates can stay above the fray.”
Canova has hit Wasserman Schultz hard for her support for the Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal, as well as her controversial stance on payday loans. She’s co-sponsored legislation that would severely curb new rules regarding predatory payday lending.
The Wasserman Schultz campaign said that the average donation to her campaign has been $89. Supporters of Canova said on Monday that his average campaign contribution is $20.
The primary election between the two Democrats takes place Aug. 30.
