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January 30, 2009

A Very Brief Capsule Analysis of the RNC Chairman's Race

Carroll Andrew Morse

One thought I've heard from multiple Rhode Islanders keeping tabs on the Republican National Committee Chairman's election is that Mike Duncan would be the only bad choice, the reasoning being that Mr. Duncan takes the position that national party should focus only on Federal races and that state parties have to fend for themselves. There's great skepticism that this top-down philosophy (perhaps usual for the party?) can work given current political conditions.

The election is today. Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post has his last round of handicapping here.

Comments

Calling All Junkies:

Real Clear Politics has a live update running at ...

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/politics_nation/2009/01/live_updates_from_the_rnc_chai.html

Duncan has dropped out.

Posted by: George at January 30, 2009 2:35 PM

Dawson takes the lead!

Dawson 62
Steele 60
Anuzis 31
Blackwell 15

Come on Anuzis people, help Dawson!

Posted by: George at January 30, 2009 2:50 PM

"3:44: The 6th ballots are now being distributed, but it appears as though the race is already over. Look for Steele to come out on top. "

Posted by: George at January 30, 2009 3:52 PM

Steele wins! I'm glad this turned out to be a real contest, with plenty of back and forth. He'll be an infinite improvement over outgoing RNC chairman Mike "Take a Hike" Duncan. At least Steele can communicate effectively. Hopefully that translates into some GOP gains.

From the Politico: Steele emerged victorious from a lengthy, six-ballot voting process. Running against him were incumbent RNC Chair Mike Duncan, South Carolina Republican Party Chair Katon Dawson, Michigan Republican Party Chair Saul Anuzis, and former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell.

The Marylander, who entered the race in November, received 46 votes on the first ballot, but gained momentum in later rounds after Duncan faltered on the third ballot and Anuzis withdrew after the fifth. He was declared the winner after collecting 91 votes from a total of 168 on the committee.

In the last round of voting, Steele faced off against Dawson in a one-on-one contest that pitted Dawson’s insider credentials against Steele’s celebrity profile.

PS In the final round, it ended up being Steele 91 to Dawson 77.

Posted by: Will at January 30, 2009 4:49 PM

The Don won't be happy. His $15,000 anti-gay marriage brief boy from Indiana was running a character assassination campaign against Steele.

Posted by: rhody at January 30, 2009 5:34 PM

I assume you are referring to Mr. Bopp. Are you intimating that there was mudslinging and bending of the truth in a campaign? Hold the presses!

For some reason, I don't think the Gov has him on speed dial, nor has any particular interest in who the chair of the RNC is. Steele and the Gov have a lot in common. The Gov's an executive, not a political person, as any member of the RIGOP can attest to (don't take that as a dig ... I'm still a fan).

Mr. Steele wasn't my first choice, but he's still a good choice for the party.

PS Besides the obvious fact that he's a person of color, I also think the fact that he is a strongly pro-life Catholic is only going to help us, esp. here.

Posted by: Will at January 30, 2009 5:59 PM

I agree Steele was probably the best choice the GOP could make.
Its leadership has gotten too Southern-centric over the past 25 years or so. Steele seems intent on the 50-state strategy that Howard Dean was so successful with on the Democratic side.
He may be pro-life, but I suspect he's willing to run a pro-choice woman against Patrick Kennedy, just the kind of candidate that could win a federal race here (it wasn't so long ago the GOP had three out of four of our congressional delegration, albeit with candidates the Southerners probably wouldn't approve of). Patrick's support is a mile wide and an inch deep.

Posted by: rhody at January 30, 2009 7:12 PM