Wasserman Schultz re-elected DNC leader

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., who was backed by President Obama, won unanimous re-election as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.

"I could not have been more proud of our president yesterday," Wasserman Schultz said after the vote Tuesday.

The typically pro-forma re-election meeting became chaotic when members objected to the slate to address the departure of DNC secretary Alice Germond, who held the position since 2002, Politico reported.

Wasserman Schultz broke the stalemate by asking Germond to remain as "secretary emeritus," allowing her to be an at-large voting member.

Germond then told participants they should support the slate of candidates. After she spoke, objections were withdrawn and the slate was approved by acclamation, Politico said.

Pledging that the Democratic Party will "stand and fight," Wasserman Schultz said, "We're going to stand side by side, and we're going to fight tooth and nail to make sure that all the people who are trying to tear the president down, that are going to try to stop us and throw roadblocks in our path, that don't want everyone in America to have an opportunity to be successful, that don't care about the middle class and working families, we're going to remind them what this election was about."