Priebus to Run for RNC Chair
Reid Wilson at Hotline on Call reports:
A former top ally of Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele will run against him for chairman this year.
Wisconsin Republican Party chairman Reince Priebus announced his candidacy for national chairman in a Monday email to members of the national committee.
"The RNC must be at its best during this next election cycle. There is too much at risk for our Party and, more importantly, for our country. That is why I am running for Chairman," Priebus wrote. "It is not just about fundraising. It is not just about communicating our message. It is not just about standing up for our conservative values and party platform. It is not just about putting together successful victory programs. It must be all those things to win in 2012."
Priebus helped elect Steele in 2009 and has served for the past two years as the RNC's general counsel before resigning Sunday, as well as one of Steele's top lieutenants. It has often fallen to Priebus to put out fires that Steele has caused.
But that role has grown tiresome, according to Priebus's friends and associates. In his letter to members, Priebus took several not-so-veiled shots at his former ally, the incumbent.
"I will run a tight ship at the RNC. I will keep expenses low. I will put in strong and serious controls. We will raise the necessary funds to make sure we are successful. We will work to regain the confidence of our donor base and I will personally call our major donors to ask them to rejoin our efforts at the RNC," Priebus said.
Those privy to Priebus's strategy suggest he will attempt to appropriate much of Steele's old inner circle and reach out to those who would have opposed Steele's candidacy. Though he was seen as the member closest to Steele during the past two years, Priebus has maintained relations with Steele's opponents. But rivals will attempt to paint Priebus as an accomplice of the bumpy Steele tenure.
Priebus starts the campaign with at least three votes toward the 85 he would need to secure a win -- his own, Illinois Republican Party chair Pat Brady's and Wisconsin national committeewoman Mary Buestrin's. He will face off against former Michigan Republican Party chairman Saul Anuzis, former RNC co-chair Ann Wagner, former RNC political director Gentry Collins and former Bush administration official Maria Cino. Collins and Cino are expected to make their campaigns official in short order.
Steele has not said whether he will run for a second term. Several other candidates, including former RNC chairman Mike Duncan, are also contemplating bids.
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