DNC Chair: All GOP candidates are "the same"
Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz says it makes no difference which Republican presidential candidate scores the nomination for 2012 - because they all share extreme-right views that will not prevail over President Obama.
Wasserman Schultz, speaking in an appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation," said Sunday that any Republican candidate in the field would pose a "very stark contrast" when matched up against Mr. Obama in the 2012 election, particularly on issues like Social Security, immigration reform and Medicare.
"It doesn't much matter which one of the Republicans gets nominated because they're all the same," the Florida Democrat said. "They are all embracing and bear-hugging the Tea Party. Moving to the right - they can't move to the right far enough.
"They all favor privatizing Social Security, which would pull the safety net out from under our seniors, and favor ending Medicare as we know it... They all are wrong on immigration reform when it comes to Hispanics in the states," she continued.
Addressing Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus, who also appeared on the show. the Florida Congresswoman said, "My state will go in the win column for President Obama again because the extremists in the Tea Party control your party."
Priebus argued that Mr. Obama was "upside down" in Florida, and cited a September 13 New York special election - in which Republican Bob Turner beat Democrat David Weprin for the seat vacated by the retired Democrat Anthony Weiner - that "these talking points have been tested" and that "they're imploding."
Priebus defended the Republican field of presidential candidates, and argued that the "excitement" in the race to this point is a product of the talk surrounding the Republican candidates.
"The horsepower, the excitement is on the Republican side of the aisle," he said. "The reason why is because people in this country want to save this country economically, and this president isn't doing the trick."
Still, when asked if he thought another Republican might enter the face, such as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Priebus allowed that there was still time for another candidate to declare his or her candidacy.
"Look, I'm happy with the field. I think it's a great field," he said. "Is there a time through a nomination process technically to still get in? Sure there is."
