Michael Steele to Attend RNC Debate

1 year ago

0 Comments Say Something »

Text Size

Correspondent

Michael Steele says he will debate the five candidates seeking to unseat him as head of the Republican National Committee after all.

The Daily Caller, which will co-sponsor the Jan. 3 showdown, confirmed Steele's attendance Tuesday.

His rivals committed to the debate weeks ago but it was widely expected that Steele would skip it, opting instead to defend his leadership in private meetings with RNC members.

Earlier this month, Steele announced his intention to seek a second term, despite complaints about his fundraising shortcomings, alleged mismanagement of the national committee, and embarrassing off-the-cuff remarks.

Politico reported Tuesday that a group of conservatives on the RNC's internet message board has launched an "anybody but Steele" campaign to get voters to pledge not to support the embattled one-term chairman.

Five candidates are lined up to take on Steele: former Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis; Wisconsin GOP Chair Reince Priebus; Gentry Collins, ex-political director of the RNC; Ann Wagner, former RNC co-chairwoman; and Maria Cino, who was CEO of the 2008 Republican Convention in St. Paul, Minn.

Next month's debate, also sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform, will be at the National Press Club. It will be moderated by The Daily Caller's Tucker Carlson and Grover Norquist, president of ATR.

The election for RNC chairman will take place in Washington in January.

Filed Under: Republicans, Debates, 2012 President, 2012 Elections

Tagged: dailyguidance, debate, Michael Steele, Republican National Committee, RNC

Our New Approach to Comments

In an effort to encourage the same level of civil dialogue among Politics Daily’s readers that we expect of our writers – a “civilogue,” to use the term coined by PD’s Jeffrey Weiss – we are requiring commenters to use their AOL or AIM screen names to submit a comment, and we are reading all comments before publishing them. Personal attacks (on writers, other readers, Nancy Pelosi, George W. Bush, or anyone at all) and comments that are not productive additions to the conversation will not be published, period, to make room for a discussion among those with ideas to kick around. Please read our Help and Feedback section for more info.