White House spokesman Josh Earnest said President Obama has no intention of trying to oust Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz as the chair of Democratic Party in the wake of his endorsement of Hillary Clinton for president.
Within an hour of Obama publicly backing Clinton to succeed him, Earnest shot down any notion that Wasserman Schultz should leave the top job at the party’s campaign arm, in the wake of complaints from Bernie Sanders and his supporters that she is biased toward Clinton.
In Florida last week, Obama said Wasserman Schultz has “always had his back, and he will have hers,” Earnest said.
“The structure was built and financed through Debbie Wasserman Schultz’ efforts,” Earnest added.
The White House’s support for the head of the Democratic Party comes after reports that Sanders might push to strike a deal to remove her from the post as a way for the Democratic Party to unite in the wake of Clinton clinching the nomination.
Earnest said Obama chose Wasserman Schultz to head the Democratic National Committee in his first term and credited her with building the “campaign apparatus” that succeeded in re-electing him.
At a private fundraising dinner in Miami Thursday, Obama praised Wasserman Schultz, who was on hand for the event, after some Democratic party activists stepped up calls for her ouster. Earnest also reminded reporters Thursday that Obama is supporting her re-election to the House.
Sanders also is supporting her primary opponent, Timothy Canova, a professor at the Shepard Broad College of Law in Florida’s Nova Southeastern University.
