DNC chair expects Clinton’s help in ’14

KEN THOMAS
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Friday she expects Hillary Rodham Clinton to help Democrats heading into the midterm elections and raise money for the national party.

Wasserman Schultz said in an interview to air Sunday on C-SPAN that she had spoken to the potential 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and received assurances of the former secretary of state’s help in the 2014 elections. Clinton is expected to decide later this year or in early 2015 about her political future, and Democrats are anticipating she will raise money and campaign on behalf of candidates.

“I’m confident that she’s going to be (involved), and I’ve spoken to her,” Wasserman Schultz said in an interview with C-SPAN’s ‘Newsmakers.’ “She’s going to be involved in helping Democrats across the country to get elected, including the DNC.”

The former first lady has said she intends to help Democrats before the 2014 elections but has not specified the extent of her role. Clinton been focused on a tour to promote her new book, “Hard Choices,” about her time at the State Department. Former President Bill Clinton has taken an active role in fundraising for Democrats.

Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., endorsed Clinton’s presidential campaign in February 2007 but said that as head of the party, she would need to “credibly manage the primary process.” She said Vice President Joe Biden “could be a standard-bearer” for Democrats and listed other potential candidates, including Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner.

Wasserman Schultz said the DNC expects to make a decision on the site of its 2016 national convention by the end of the year or in early 2015. The contenders are New York, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Columbus, Ohio, and Birmingham, Alabama.

Representatives of the six cities plan to pitch their proposals on Monday to a DNC panel considering where to hold the convention. DNC officials are expected to make site visits later in the year.

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Follow Ken Thomas on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ap_ken_thomas

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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