New Republican Chairman?

[Dr. Shane]

Gingrich, Steele duel privately for RNC job

A behind-the-scenes battle to take the reins of the Republican National Committee is taking off between former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele.

Neither man will acknowledge his interest in the post, but Republicans close to each are burning up the phone lines and firing off e-mails to fellow party members in an effort to oust RNC Chairman Mike Duncan in the wake of the second consecutive drubbing of Republican candidates at the polls...

Republicans agree that their national party is leaderless and in desperate need of someone who has the force of personality and history of accomplishments to command national attention to take on Mr. Obama. Someone is also needed to unite disparate factions that, even in the best of times, generate internal friction among themselves...

Mr. Gingrich is remembered as the former history teacher from Georgia who led the "Republican Revolution," first as a backbencher in the House during the Reagan era and eventually the electoral earthquake in 1994 that brought the Republican Party into the majority in the House and the Senate for the first time in 40 years.

Mr. Steele's conservative GOPAC was founded by former Delaware Gov. Pete du Pont as a national candidate recruitment and training organization for state and local offices.

Those like Shawn Steel who want to see Mr. Steele as the face of the party say he has the "it" required for national stardom - that he is tall, articulate and charismatic. Mr. Steele headed the Maryland Republican Party (and was the only black state party chairman) before being elected lieutenant governor and then losing his U.S. Senate race two years ago.

"I believe that the RNC ought to recruit a superstar," Mr. Steel said in a dear colleague letter to other RNC members. "That superstar should have the following qualities:

- instant media recognition and credibility;

- knowledge of where and how to raise money;

- the ability to convince members of Congress to take visionary pro-growth and pro-family stands, that when some members act like Democrats they do a great disservice to the party's brand."

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