Coleman May Enter RNC Race
Politico reports:
Norm Coleman — former U.S. senator from Minnesota, and now chairman of American Action Network and Forum, a key outside GOP group – is likely to enter the race for Republican National Committee chairman now that Michael Steele is expected to announce he will not seek reelection.
“Norm is leaning towards running, based on his ability to raise money and act as a national surrogate,” a close source said.
Friends say Coleman’s big push would be his ability to help the RNC retire its daunting debt: “I was the best fundraiser of all the Senate candidates.”
However, committee insiders say Coleman was hurt by the leaked news that he had promised Steele he wouldn’t run against him, since many in the GOP are agitating for change, not clubbiness.
Steele has announced a conference call with RNC members at 7:30 p.m. Monday. Friends say that he has not revealed his decision, but has sent them the clear signal that he’s dropping out. That’s based in part on the erosion, in the past week, of votes he had been counting on.
The chairman’s vote, to be held next month during the RNC’s winter meeting, is a quirky, unpredictable process. But insiders say the heavy favorite in the race is Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, who is backed by Henry Barbour, a nephew of Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour.
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