The Political Diva

RNC elects former Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele chair

On the sixth ballot, members of the Republican National Committee elected former Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele as its chairman.  Steele is the first African-American to lead the RNC.

The race saw 3 candidates - RNC Chairman Mike Duncan, former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell and Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis drop their bids during the balloting. Duncan unexpectedly withdrew after the 3rd ballot, Blackwell withdrew after the fourth ballot - endorsing Steele and Anuzis withdrew after the fifth ballot. The final ballot count was - 91 to 77.

Steele was the first African-American elected to serve in a Maryland state-wide office. Most recently the chair of GOPAC, political action committee working to elect Republicans to office, Steele lost a 2006 Senate election to Democrat Ben Cardin.

BlackPoliticsontheWeb.com

RNC Chair elections - update before the 5th ballot

Wow - Blackwell is withdrawing and endorsing Steele....  Did not see that coming - it has been thought that Blackwell backers are a more natural fit for Dawson - the question is will his supporters back Steele?

RNC Chair elections - 5th ballot & Anuzis withdraws

Blackwell - 79

Dawson - 69

Anuzis - 20

Anuzis is out....the 6th ballot will be it....

GOP chair race update

Well, I was very wrong - Mike Duncan is withdrawing, does not endorse.  Motion for a 5 minute recess didn't pass.  4th ballot begins...

RNC Chair elections - 3rd ballot results & observations

Third ballot results:

Steele - 51
Duncan - 44
Dawson - 34
Anuzis - 24
Blackwell - 15

Hopefully at this point we will see at least one & maybe more candidates drop off the ballot.  Blackwell definitely needs to drop and I wouldn't be surprised if Duncan drops after the next ballot.  If he doesn't make up some of the ground he's lost, and if Dawson continues to gain - he's a goner.

My prediction: Duncan will hang around for another ballot, but will lose more support.  If Blackwell stays in - he will lose more support as well.  The defectors will gravitate to Steele & Dawson.  Fifth ballot - Steele/Duncan, with a possibility that Anuzis will stick around for the 5th - just to see how things shake out.  The race will be decided on the sixth ballot.  

One observation - the RNC may want to strongly consider increasing the size of their committee.  Watching the proceedings on TV, I'm not surprised by the lack of diversity - but with a larger committee - there would more opportunities to diversify the membership.

RNC Chair elections - 2nd ballot results

Duncan - 48
Steele - 48
Dawson - 29
Anuzis - 24
Blackwell - 19

Things are looking pretty good for Steele as he's managed to tie Duncan on the second ballot.  Blackwell probably should drop out at this point, the third ballot will be telling.

RNC Chair elections

OK, the first round of balloting for chair of the Republican National Committee is done.  Here are the vote totals:

Current RNC Chair Mike Duncan - 52
Former MD Lt. Governor Michael Steele - 46
SC GOP Chair Katon Dawson - 28
MI GOP Chair Saul Anuzis - 22
Former OH Secretary of State Ken Blackwell - 20

Check me out on NPR's 'News & Notes'

President Obama granted his first sit-down interview to an Arab TV network, telling the Muslim world that "Americans are not your enemy" and calling for lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Can he succeed in the Middle East where other presidents have failed?

On that issue and more, Tony Cox speaks with Brandon Whitney of Homeland Colors; Felicia Harvey of Black Politics on the Web; and Kevin Ross of 3 Brothers and A Sister.

NPR 'News & Notes' - January 28 clip

Sink not running for US Senate in 2010

Florida CFO Alex Sink has decided against running for the open Senate seat in 2010.  Perhaps to some - this is surprising, but not to me.  Two very good reasons for Florida Democrats to be excited about Sink not jumping in the race.

• Sink is pretty much a lock in her CFO seat - she is also perfectly positioned to run for the seat she really wants in 2014 - Florida Governor
• This will prevent the FL Democratic primary race from turning into a microcosm of the 2008 Democratic presidential primary cycle - a 24-7 analysis of race vs. gender

One drawback (for Sink) is if a credible Democrat jumps into the Governor's race.  Depending on how well the FDP is able to capitalize and expand upon their statewide 2008 success - this race could be very interesting. 

Random Thoughts - 1/8

• JEB! is not running for the Senate seat in Florida.
• Alex Sink has not made up her mind about running for the seat.
• The world may very well end in 2012 because 2 white men are striving to be St. Petersburg's first black mayor.  
• Rocco is gone and Gruden is still here.