“At a time when the American people have made it clear they need real solutions from their leaders that will help working and middle-class families get ahead and put our country back on track, all the Republican candidates had to offer during tonight’s debate were more shameless attempts to woo the extreme right wing of the Republican Party. Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, the current frontrunners of the GOP field, have spent their entire candidacy throwing every attack they can possibly muster at President Obama and each other. This type of discourse though doesn’t come as much of a surprise—Mitt Romney has shown time and time again that he’ll say anything to get elected, and Rick Santorum has consistently demonstrated he cares more about dividing America than restoring economic security for the middle class. Tonight, instead of talking about jobs or how to provide a secure future for the middle class, Republicans attacked a woman’s right to contraception, spouted more extreme anti-immigrant rhetoric and leveled more false and defamatory attacks against the President’s faith and support for religious liberty. It was an unfortunate display of one-upmanship from candidates who are tripping over one another to appeal to the far right wing extreme of their party. And the only discussion of jobs in this debate revolved around the unanimous position of Republicans on stage that they would have let Detroit go bankrupt; would have turned their backs on American workers; and would have allowed an iconic American industry and over one million jobs to go down the tubes.

“The fact is hardworking Americans across the country don’t want more tired distractions from the issues that matter most—they want to have the basic security of knowing that if they work hard and play by the rules, they can do well enough to raise a family, own a home and have some savings when they retire. That’s what President Obama has been fighting for since day one of his presidency, and we’re seeing the results: 23 straight months of private sector job growth for a total 3.7 million jobs, with American manufacturing creating jobs for the first time since the 1990s. Meanwhile, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum have proposed economic plans that would explode the deficit by over a trillion dollars and drag our country back to the same failed policies of the past. The choice facing voters in November is clear—the President will continue to move America forward, while the leading GOP candidates would be bad news for the future of our country.”

Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement tonight on the results of the GOP primary in Missouri, as well as the Republican caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota:

“Tonight was a bad night for Mitt Romney, plain and simple.  What should have been a night where he began to consolidate Republican support instead has shown that Republicans are reluctant to get behind him.   Republicans are giving the field of candidates another look, demonstrating that the more people get to know Mitt Romney, the less they like him.  They know he'll say anything to get elected, and they don't want a candidate they can't trust.

"Also alarming for Republicans is the lack of enthusiasm and low turnout we're seeing in these contests. In state after state, turnout among Republican voters is lower than it was in 2008, and they are increasingly dissatisfied with their choice of candidates.

“No candidate embodies that dissatisfaction more than Mitt Romney, who hasn't managed to lock this nomination up. The presumed front runner of the GOP field lost two of tonight’s contests so far – that math speaks for itself.  He is losing support from independent voters nationally, and tonight we saw he's not gaining the favor of Republican primary voters either. They clearly don't appreciate being ignored as Mitt Romney did to Minnesota and they know his failed record as Governor of Massachusetts on the key issue of jobs, his background as a corporate raider, and his economic proposals would leave the middle class behind."

Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement tonight on the results of the Republican caucus in Nevada:

"This week we’ve seen more evidence of the candidate who will say anything to get elected.  On every issue important to Nevadans and all Americans– from jobs and housing to immigration –Mitt Romney might try to tell voters what they want to hear, but the fact is he’s on the wrong side of the issues.

"Romney is running on his private sector experience and job creation record, but what he won’t tell voters is that he was actually a corporate raider who lined his pockets by running companies into the ground, closing factories, firing workers and sending jobs overseas.  He’s tried to pander to Hispanic voters, when he’s already called the DREAM Act a ‘handout’ and promised to veto it if he had the chance.  And he says he wants to help America’s struggling homeowners, but he hasn’t offered a single plan to do so – what’s worse, earlier this week he doubled down on the outrageous statement he originally made in Nevada that we should let the foreclosure process ‘hit the bottom.

"But Mitt Romney’s failed agenda isn’t just wrong for Nevadans – it’s wrong for the entire country.  Every week, every contest, everywhere he goes, Romney has shown he’s out of touch with the needs of the middle class and doesn’t understand what American families are going through.  In Florida, he said the banks are feeling the same pain as families are feeling – going into Nevada, he said he isn’t concerned about the very poor.

"The truth is we’re ready to face any of the Republican candidates because they are all fundamentally flawed, and they all support the policies of the past that drove our economy to the brink of collapse.  But thanks to President Obama’s leadership, we are starting to dig ourselves out.  So while the GOP field keeps trying to drag our country backward, the President will continue to move America forward – and come November, the choice for voters will be crystal-clear.”

DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz today released the following statement commemorating February as Black History Month:

“As we begin our national celebration of Black History Month today, we honor the critical role that African Americans have played in making our country a more perfect union. We also recognize the vast accomplishments of African Americans throughout our nation’s history and celebrate the contributions and triumphant victories of leaders like Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Fannie Lou Hammer, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks, who helped to lead the way in overcoming the stain of segregation and ensuring that all Americans have access to the ballot box.

In this critical moment, we cannot afford to turn back the clock—there is still much more work to do. We know that we must continue moving America forward on the path of progress, opportunity and fairness for all. That means standing up to attempts to suppress the right of all citizens to cast a ballot, ensuring that all Americans have access to quality affordable health care, and investing in education to guarantee that every single person in this country has a fair chance at living the American Dream.

“Throughout Black History Month, we reaffirm our commitment to a more perfect union as we honor and celebrate the contributions of African Americans to our great nation—as we continue the critical work of striving for justice and equality for all.”

DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement on RNC Chairman Reince Priebus comparing President Obama to the captain of the Italian cruise ship that wrecked earlier this month:

“Chairman Priebus should be ashamed of his comments comparing President Obama to the captain of the wrecked Italian cruise ship. That he would compare the President of the United States with a man now charged with manslaughter for his actions shows a lack of respect for the President that is beyond the bounds of appropriate political discourse. More importantly, it shows a galling lack of sensitivity for the victims of this tragedy and their families, as well as those still living in anguish because their loved-ones are still missing.

“Chairman Priebus crossed the line. People died, and he is exploiting and making light of a tragedy for political purposes. I call on Chairman Priebus to apologize for his comments and for the hurt he may have caused in making them."