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Politico.com…
Reince Priebus
elected RNC chairman; Michael Steele ends bid
By Andy Barr
Jan. 14, 2011 - Reince Priebus, who led the Wisconsin Republican Party
to major gains in the 2010 midterm elections, won election as chairman
of the Republican National Committee in a drawn-out balloting process
Friday, ousting incumbent Chairman Michael Steele after a rocky
two-year tenure.
Priebus started out as the top vote-getter in the race, besting Steele
by one vote on the first ballot. But it wasn’t until the seventh round
of voting that he passed the 85-vote victory threshold, counting 97
supporters on the final ballot.
The Kenosha attorney said in his victory speech that he was “humbled”
by the win and immediately turned his attention to the challenges still
ahead for the RNC.
“Together, we can defeat Barack Obama in 2012 – together, unified as a
committee,” Priebus said. “We’re going to start by putting a solid
business plan in place to operate effectively and efficiently, to begin
to restore the faith of our donors.
“I can’t wait to rebuild this party and help conservative candidates,”
he said.
The organization Priebus now leads begins the presidential cycle in
something approaching a state of crisis.
The committee’s treasurer, Randy Pullen, told members at the winter
meeting that the RNC is more than $20 million in the red. Many major
contributors abandoned the RNC during the midterm campaign due to
concerns over Steele’s leadership – in particular his management of the
committee’s finances.
Instead, they turned to a collection of conservative third-party
groups, such as American Crossroads and the American Action Network, as
more trustworthy destinations for their campaign cash.
Whether those high-dollar donors return to the RNC will depend in no
small part on Priebus’s leadership. Mississippi Committeeman Henry
Barbour highlighted that fact in his nominating speech for Priebus
Friday by mentioning former RNC finance chairman Mel Sembler and Howard
Leach, both of whom co-signed a letter calling for Steele’s ouster in
the weeks before the RNC vote.
In addition to facing steep financial challenges, Priebus will also
have to contend with skepticism in some Republican circles about his
preparedness to serve as a public advocate and spokesman for the GOP.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47626.html
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