Posted on 12/28/2010 11:08:27 AM PST by iowamark
More than one-third of RNC members have publicly stated their intentions.
According to The Hotline’s latest whip count, Michael Steele continues to fall behind former Wisconsin GOP chair Reince Priebus in his bid to maintain his position as chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC). Iowan Gentry Collins has picked up one delegate, bringing his total to three and leaving him badly trailing in the race for the RNC’s top spot.
As of Monday, Priebus was publicly supported by 22 voting RNC delegates, compared to only 12 behind Steele. Former Michigan Republican chair Saul Anuzis is breathing right down Steele’s neck with 11 pledges delegates, and former RNC co-chair Ann Wagner is in the mix with 10 supporters.
With the Jan. 14 vote for the next chairman fast approaching, over one-third of the RNC delegates have publicly stated their voting intentions. As noted two weeks ago, Steele’s deficit in supporters is likely closer to the sum of all the challengers’ delegates rather than just Priebus’ alone, as those RNC members have already decided to back someone besides the incumbent Steele and will be likely to switch their allegiance to one of the other challengers once their initial favorite drops from the ballot.
The Hotline also reported that Priebus has managed to pull away a key Steele ally for his corner:
""On Sunday, California national committee member Shawn Steel made public his decision to back Wisconsin Republican Party chairman Reince Priebus. The Californian had been a key member of Steele’s kitchen cabinet and one of the incumbent chairman’s top defenders.
The defection, rumored for a week, is seen as a major blow to Steele’s dwindling re-election hopes.""
I kind of hope he doesn't win, because every time I see his name, I think it says Prince Reibus.
But it would behoove Republicans to treat him decently and honorably, and continue to allow him to have a place at the table.
I believe Steele got screwed initially but I’ve seen him really paying attention to and embracing the grass roots as he has grown in his role. I didn’t know Priebus was a Barbour pick. I don’t trust Barbour personally. If the RNC wants to regain credibility it needs to elect someone to the position who will not alienate the grass roots.
I wish Sarah had set her sights on this job.
He’s not running for President.
Who cares if the general population recognizes his name. The majority of the general population probably doesn’t even know who the Vice President is.
The RNC chair has two jobs. Raising money and organizing a good ground game in elections. To do that he or she doesn’t need to be well known by the public, old, or look like John Wayne.
I really don’t know the guy that well beyond his political successes. I personally don’t care who the RNC Chair is if it’s not a conservative. A strong conservative RNC Chair could be useful to our cause but someone who isnt a conservative would not be and I’d rather the Chairmanship wither and die with Steele then fight for an example a Karl Rove acolyte.
On a political level he’d be a good choice. Turned a blue state red, kicked out a long term Democrat Senator who partnered with McCain against free speech. I’m not really sure how much credit he can be given for Johnson’s win. He was a Tea Party candidate that came out of nowhere and seemed a natural at running a winning campaign on his own but the state wide success should speak to Reince’s favor. If I were basing this decision on political success he’d be the perfect choice. In his favor he’s not one of the older establishment as Barbour is, though Barbour is one of the few competant Republicans nationally at constructing winning campaigns.
IF he’s a conservative I’d back the guy for Chair, not that the rich guys care what I think.
Thank you. You guys are a whiz at finding things on computers. Well he does have a hot wife.
Steele spent waaaay too much money, asking me for more money.
Those funds should have been spent supporting CONSERVATIVE candidates!
Who would you then want as our presidential nominee—once you had conveniently got Palin out of the way?
When it comes to her being President, I am not so sure that can happen. (just my gut)
On the left, women will get behind a woman, any woman. But the necessary middle doesn't seem to fall that way.
Just another bunch of Mitbots trying to move ALL the pro-life personalities off the stage at the Republican national Presidential nominating convention.
Why don't you guys go try to do that some other way where you can be successful ~ like gunfire ~ make the rest of us "official victims" so we can win the election without even needing to campaign.
BTW, no way you guys are taking over the party machinery so's you can get away with killing babies.
Steele: Abortion an 'individual choice'
Candidates Line Up for RNC Chairmanship
Steele Says Blacks Have 'No Reason' to Vote Republican
Black Conservative Group Launches Petition Drive To Remove RNC Chairman Michael Steele
VIDEO: MICHAEL STEELE SAYS REPUBLICANS "AFRAID" OF HIM (video)
Video: Steele says being black gives him "slimmer margin for error" at RNC (video)
Probe of Steele spending sought
RNC exec Gentry Collins resigns, attacks Michael Steele
Michael Steele: GOP won't win House
Op-Ed: Michael Steele Must Go!
Sorry, but Sarah has stated her forte and desire is NOT a job whose #1 goal is raising money.
She has bigger fish to fry with her leadership skills and conservative vision to reclaim America.
You didn’t even begin to answer my question!
(Most ‘I love Sarah but’ Freepers don’t want to answer. Often, but by no means always, because they are the paid Mitt/Establishment guys posting here for their team’s agenda.)
As chair of the RNC, I think Sarah would have more influence on the direction of the party and it's influence on those already in congress. She would be an especially strong factor in the 2012 national elections.
Of course it's only my gut feeling; but, I don't yet see Sarah giving middle America the confidence in her ability to compete with despots on the world stage.
I have been getting calls from the RNC. When I answer, no one says anything. I really wanted to tell them to quit calling me because I am fed up with them. : (
I think the middle knows she’d deal with the despots probably better than anyone else running. And she has won over the independent/moderate middle in the past, reaching an unheard of 90% approval rating as Alaska guv.
Most of that squishy middle is poorly informed and they only make up their minds in the last month up to the election. I agree with you that she certainly has work to do there (though I think it is a mix between overcoming the media caricature and a socio-cultural gap with the upper middle class that she has to bridge). Where we disagree is on her chances, compared to anyone else we have, of getting to a majority in the swing-vote states that matter. Look there specifically, and I think you’ll see she’s in far better shape already than the media want you to realize. I still want to see and hear more from her and the other candidates, but my guess is she’s our best hope.
Paul Ryan is another of those “American Motors’ polticians? How about Scott Walker? Ron Johnson perhaps? Have you ever listened to Reince speak? Do you think he should get any credit for helping to lead Wi Republicans out of the wilderness?
As for being one of Haley’s goombahs, I think the head of the RNC has to be connected in order to fulfill his primary mission, raising money. Being connected and being a lapdog are two different things, and since Reince is opposing Steele, I think he has shown his ability to put party ahead of people.
Not sure where you get off putting down Republicans from Wisconsin, but it is the intolerent putz’s like you that will make the tent smaller and lead to defeat in 2012. Concentrating on social issues in a time of 10% unemployment, two wars, and huge deficits is a recipe for diasaster in 2012, I only hope the religous right realizes this before they tear the party apart.
Hey, I grew up in Indianapolis. They have their old money too ~ and all into automotive stocks and bonds, or related but more advanced technologies.
They put their strength behind Romney's dad, they'll put it behind Romney Jr.
That's how they do it.
Frankly, I don't think we have any room any more for the high church people. They need to form a third party or go somewhere else maybe ~ or, they can put aside their religious bigotry and accept the fact that Republicans these days are attractive to active practicing Catholics (if not the hierarchy eh), holy rollers, and traditional hereditary Republicans who may or may not be socially conscious but who do not share the narrow monied interests of the high church folks.
Right?
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