U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz was elected chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee Wednesday and vowed to lead the fight for President Barack Obama’s re-election.

Wasserman Schultz takes over from former Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia, who left the DNC to run for the U.S. Senate in 2012.

Only 44, Wasserman Schultz has represented parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties in Congress since being elected in 2004. Before that, she served more than a decade in Tallahassee, serving eight years in the House and four years in the Senate. She served more than two years as vice chairwoman of the DNC under Kaine.

Obama selected Wasserman Schultz to lead the DNC -- a point she reiterated during a speech Wednesday.

“I am so honored to have been nominated for this position by the president, and I am humbled beyond words at your vote of confidence,” said Wasserman Schultz. “To have been asked by President Obama to lead our party is an indescribable feeling."

Referring to her first election to the Florida House, Wasserman Schultz insisted that she learned the importance of hard work and never taking no for an answer.

“I will work every single day, like I did in that first race, to re-elect our president, win back the House, hold the Senate and elect Democrats up and down the ballot,” said Wasserman Schultz. “On my watch we will not be outworked.”

The Florida Democrat took aim at the Republicans in her remarks.

“They talk of deficits, but propose $1 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthy,” said Wasserman Schultz. “They plan to eliminate Medicare as we know it and protect tax subsidies for oil companies. They propose cuts to our children’s education and attack their teachers as being overpaid. It’s hard to understand how they could be so out-of-step with Americans’ priorities.

“As Democrats we know a little about ‘yes we can,’ but Republicans seem to be stuck on ‘no we can’t.’” she added.

“We will invest in the strongest campaign and the best organizing ever to give President Obama a second term,” insisted Wasserman Schultz. “This is going to be the toughest campaign in the history of America. Republicans are going to throw everything they have at us.”

Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.