Wasserman Schultz tapped to help elect more Democrats

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, will reprise her role as a leader of the House Democrats’ Red-to-Blue program, an effort to flip Republican-held seats to the Democrats.

Wasserman Schultz co-chaired the program in 2006, when her party picked up enough seats to take control of the House away from the Republicans.

She didnt have an opponent that year, allowing her to devote time to the effort, serving as a mentor to a Democratic candidate in Albany, N.Y., and visiting 15 congressional districts outside Florida.

During one marathon October trip, she visited 12 districts over eight days in Washington, Arizona, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Wasserman Schultz said the effort is needed again in 2008.

“We cannot afford to rest on our laurels. If we as Democrats are going to continue to take this country in the new direction and provide the change that this country so desperately needs, we must expand our majority,” she said in a statement.

The Red to Blue program highlights top Democratic campaigns across the country, and offers them financial, communications, and strategic support.