Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders who is the final month of his 2016 Democratic presidential bid has no love for Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Sunday making the rounds on the political talk shows Sanders went on the record backing his supporter Tim Canova, a little known college professor, in Florida’s 23rd congressional district over the long established Wasserman Shultz.
Sanders also said that if her were elected president he would bounce Wasserman Schultz out as the head of the Democratic National Committee Chairperson. Meanwhile, back in the Sunshine State Canova is the Florida congresswoman’s first primary challenger, is that he says he has raised more than $1 million since kicking off his campaign in January.
That total comes despite him being relatively unknown compared to the woman he is challenging. Now a professor at Nova Southeastern University’s law school in Fort Lauderdale, he has taught international trade law for 20 years and been a vocal opponent of President Barack Obama’s signature trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which has enraged liberals.
This is one of his biggest policy differences with Wasserman Schultz, who was one of 28 House Democrats to support legislation giving Obama fast-track trade authority for the TPP.
That issue propelled him to run against the lawmaker he voted for two years ago.
Canova was lobbying the Florida congressional delegation with Citizens Trade Campaign, a coalition of groups founded in 1992 to fight the North American Free Trade Agreement, to oppose the TPP.
For those who know him best, Canova’s plunge into electoral politics was not completely unexpected. His former colleagues and friends describe him as “extremely well-informed and active” and a “true progressive” who frequently discusses politics and policy.
Despite Canova’s backing from Sanders he still faces an uphill battle against Wasserman Schultz who has the strong backing of Hillary Clinton. No doubt it will be a close race and one we clearly will follow
