Showdown: RNC chair voting now underway; Update: Steele wins!
posted at 12:52 pm on January 30, 2009 by Allahpundit
You can watch live online on C-SPAN or follow along with the running updates at Hotline or Campaign Spot. First man to 85 wins. The bad news: After one round of balloting, current chairman Mike Duncan leads. The good news: Some people thought he’d start off in the neighborhood of 70 votes, with a possible clinch on the second or third ballot. Instead he’s stuck at 52, just six votes ahead of Michael Steele. Ken Blackwell, who I thought would end up the favorite, is dead last with 20. Stand by for updates.
Katon Dawson’s third at the moment, but third-place finishers in the first round have gone on to win before. Here’s tomorrow’s headline today if he somehow manages to pull it out.
Update: Is the man of Steele about to shock the world? 48-48 after the second round.
Update: Steele 51, Duncan 44 after the third round. A money quote: “It’s a diverse party. We’re tired of being labeled as white supremacists.” Ambinder thinks Anuzis will make a deal with Steele, which would means 24 more votes for a total of 75, but I read somewhere else that Duncan and Dawson, the southerners, might make a deal of their own. That would mean 78 votes combined. Which would also mean Ken Blackwell, with 15, would get to play kingmaker.
Update: Duncan feels the “winds of change” blowing and calls it day. That leave 40+ votes in play. I’ve got a bad feeling that most are going to shift to Dawson and we’re going to see those headlines tomorrow after all…
Update: I can’t believe they’re going to elect a guy who has a whites only club in his past. After four, with Duncan’s votes now split, it’s Dawson 62, Steele 60. Anuzis has 31 and could put either of them over the top if he makes a deal.
Update: Blackwell says goodbye, and reportedly endorses Steele. If all 15 of his votes swing that way, Steele has 75, within 10 of clinching. Anuzis is the kingmaker now.
Update: Here’s what Blackwell said about Steele. Think he’s worried about the racial implications of Dawson defeating Iron Mike?
“I cannot change the composition of this electorate [pause for laughs] nore would I want to,” Blackwell said.
But he added, Republicans must “unleash a new birth of freedom” He said, Republicans need a candidate who “must inspire hope,” “have leadership ability and a “vision to pull us together and … Americans together” …
“That is why I put my fullest support behind Michael Steele.”
Might not be good enough. Blackwell’s supporters are hardcore conservatives, and Steele has a reputation (mostly unfairly) as a centrist.
Update: The fifth round is history and Blackwell’s supporters seem to have listened to him: Steele 79, Dawson 69, Anuzis 20. Your move, Saul.
Update: Anuzis is out, without an endorsement. Can Steele pull six votes from his pile? It’s all down to this.
Update: No word yet on the final tally but the man of Steele is the new leader of the party. He’s speaking now; we’ll have video soon. Let the racist “progressive” photoshops begin!
Blowback
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Notorious GOP on January 30, 2009 at 1:34 PM
technopeasant on January 30, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Why is Blackwell so out of it? Was there something about him that i missed?
JVelez on January 30, 2009 at 1:39 PM
I think these numbers are right.
Steele: 46, 48, 51
Duncan: 52, 48, 44
Slowly but surely.
LastRick on January 30, 2009 at 1:39 PM
3rd ballot:
Steele – 51
Duncan – 44
Dawson – 34
Anuzis – 24
Blackwell – 15
gatorboy on January 30, 2009 at 1:40 PM
I heard that a bunch of votes for Stuart Smalley have been found, and must be added to the mix.
Vashta.Nerada on January 30, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Same here. His selection would make the GOP’s PR problem a lot worse.
Slublog on January 30, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Go STEELE!
ctmom on January 30, 2009 at 1:40 PM
I haven’t tracked RNC chairs that closely so perhaps they have historically been “successful politicians,” but I am not sure that I understand your logic. Are you saying that the RNC chair should be someone who has won multiple elections and/or held elected office?
Steele has held an elected office — has Duncan? It looks to me like Duncan has worked on campaigns and received one or two political appointments as thank yous for those services.
It seems to me that if we have rising political stars in this party, we need them to run for and hold public offices (Governorships, Congress) and not work on partisan politicking. A successful Republican governor with bi-partisan support, for example, is much more valuable to the party serving in that role than she/he would be in a purely partisan role. (No one in mind… *wink*.)
In the early days Steele was not my first choice, but of the remaining candidates, I think he’s clearly the best choice.
I agree with JetBoy, it’s about moving forward.
Y-not on January 30, 2009 at 1:40 PM
If it’s Steele, Dems will say it’s just pandering, but why worry about what they’ll say? They’d find some reason to disparage whoever it was. Steele has cajones. That’s always a good start.
RBMN on January 30, 2009 at 1:40 PM
How is it possible that Duncan is leading or I guess tied for the lead now? I didnt even know who he was until this election. He needs to go, we need someone who is recognizable in the party to speak for the republican party.
Erockk on January 30, 2009 at 1:41 PM
I like Mike, and he’s the only one with “Steele” in his name that I’m rooting for this weekend (go Cards!)
eucher on January 30, 2009 at 1:41 PM
85 needed to win.
Steele vs. “Whites Only” for the title!
battleoflepanto1571 on January 30, 2009 at 1:41 PM
You mislead somewhat on that. Yes, you appeal to everyone, but you only need to persuade, and rely on getting, a majority. Your 49 state example distracts from that and gives a false ring of truth to your assertion.
Dusty on January 30, 2009 at 1:42 PM
I’ll be so depressed if “whites only” Dawson gets it.
therightwinger on January 30, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Steele 51
Duncan 44
Whites ONly 34
battleoflepanto1571 on January 30, 2009 at 1:42 PM
They just said Steele’s ahead now 51 to 42 for Duncan!
Go Steele.
jbohanon on January 30, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Steele’s got mojo baby
LimeyGeek on January 30, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Steele is the only choice available that’s for the best of the party. Duncan has been worthless. Dawson is tied to a “whites only” club. I’ve never heard of Anuzis. and Blackwell was SoS of Ohio, which people think he cheated in 2004 to win Bush a second term, and he’s very flimsy.
Enoxo on January 30, 2009 at 1:43 PM
How embarrassing if “Whites Only” does win. GO MICHAEL STEELE!!!
jencab on January 30, 2009 at 1:43 PM
duncan is done.
ousoonerfan15 on January 30, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Exactly. Vote correctly, damn what the Left thinks.
LastRick on January 30, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Prediction for ballot 4:
Steele 65+
Whites Only 40+
Duncan 30+
Anzuizuizuizuizuis, Blackwell single digits
PREDICTION
battleoflepanto1571 on January 30, 2009 at 1:44 PM
this is going to take a while. that is for sure
ousoonerfan15 on January 30, 2009 at 1:46 PM
Go with Steele.
Mr. Joe on January 30, 2009 at 1:46 PM
It “Whites Only” does win, today is the last day I am a registered Republican. The RNC needs to hear that from ALL OF US.
GO STEELE!
outOfElement on January 30, 2009 at 1:48 PM
If Duncan wins after declining in 2 successive votes it will be the greatest comeback since the Boston Red Sox beat the NY Yankees in a series a few years ago when they down 3 games.
technopeasant on January 30, 2009 at 1:48 PM
I think two more ballots. First Steele gains 10 more, and then on the next one, Blackwell drops out.
RBMN on January 30, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Prediction : Duncan yells “THE SHERIFF IS NEAR!”
LimeyGeek on January 30, 2009 at 1:49 PM
I’m going somewhere around this:
Steele – 60
Duncan – 39
Dawson – 39
LastRick on January 30, 2009 at 1:49 PM
It would be awesome if Steele wins this. He’s a good man, and I think he’s the right one for this job right now. I’d like to see the lefty loonies toss oreos at the RNC chair, when the President shares the same skin color. Might get interesting.
Anna on January 30, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Come on republicans. Vote for Steele. The past two elections have been bad enough. This is a good week for republicans with the House voting unanimously against the bill, don’t spoil the week. Get Steele in.
jencab on January 30, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Bugger….I meant Dawson
LimeyGeek on January 30, 2009 at 1:50 PM
No offense, but do we really want to appeal to them because we’re no different than the liberals? At what point do you just say, what’s the difference and what does it matter?
Appealing to the masses by compromising your ideology is just another way of losing it sounds like.
hawkdriver on January 30, 2009 at 1:50 PM
NO, DAGBLAMMIT!
lmao!
JetBoy on January 30, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Number of cable news appearances by Howard Dean: lots
Number of cable news appearances by Michael Steele: lots
Number of cable news appearances by RNC Chair Duncan: 0
battleoflepanto1571 on January 30, 2009 at 1:51 PM
STEELE vs. WHITES ONLY
BATTLE OF THE TITANS
battleoflepanto1571 on January 30, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Moving forward to what?
I still haven’t seen the question answered… where does he stand on issues? I’m sick of moderates and RINOs. If he’s more of the same, let the RNC die the way of the Whigs…
dominigan on January 30, 2009 at 1:51 PM
What do you guys mean by “Whites Only”?
hawkdriver on January 30, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Katon Dawson belonged to a “whites only” club.
outOfElement on January 30, 2009 at 1:52 PM
If anyone but Steele wins, I’ll eventually leave the Republican party. If “Whites Only” wins, I’m doing it today.
Enoxo on January 30, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Well, those two terms are substantive and have meaning, so, by definition they are “anti big tent.”
For example, Mike Huckabee is a nanny stater and ipso facto anti freedom. Yet, those who desire a “big tent” want us to be “excepting” of his beliefs as if they were legitimate and in some way related to Conservative principles. In fact though, they are diametrically opposed to conservatism and should be mocked, not “accepted”.
So, you see, an idea as simple as “freedom” is actually being torn down, as we speak, by those who proclaim to desire a “big tent.” As Reagan wisely said, “There’s a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics. As government expands, liberty extracts.” Or in other words, if Mike Huckabee wants to expand the size of government in order to “help” people live their lives in a fasion such that he deems reasonable, the term “freedom” is being spat upon. Hence, freedom cannot survive as we endeavour to foolishly govern as a “big tent” party.
Zetterson on January 30, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Republicans, we need a great communicator at this critical moment in American history as head of the RNC, until we nominate Sarah Palin as our standard-bearer in 3-4 years. Michael Steele, I am confident, can hold down the fort until then. We cannot re-elect Duncan and we cannot elect a non-communicator to the post. High-tech knowledge is fine but we need a salesman to head the party now to combat the Messiah, who as we all know is telegenic and has the MSM eating out of the palm of his hand.
technopeasant on January 30, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Hmmm. My support for Steele wavered a bit.
However, he’s still better than Mike “who?” Duncan.
BKennedy on January 30, 2009 at 1:53 PM
It’s part of a new suggested GOP platform – only whites can use the Internet.
LimeyGeek on January 30, 2009 at 1:53 PM
Gras
hawkdriver on January 30, 2009 at 1:54 PM
From the Ambinder link:
This pretty much tells you everything you need to know about the GOP in my home state.
Slublog on January 30, 2009 at 1:55 PM
To be honest, a year ago I wouldn’t have recognized the name Mike Duncan. Heck, a week ago I might not have been able to name his job. We need someone who gets their name out there!
Anna on January 30, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Too much of a real conservative.
baldilocks on January 30, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Are you being sarcastic? I mean, it’s Liberals who are considering legislation to limit free speech to a select crowd.
hawkdriver on January 30, 2009 at 1:57 PM
That’s one thing we need to move on from…The GOP needs cohesion as a party. Sure, there’s ultracons like yourself…and that’s fine. And there’s social moderates like myself, fine too. But we need a party leader who can address everyone in the party, not just one side.
We need to stop this “RINO” labeling. It does nothing productive.
And I, for one, am tired of the GOP not being productive. We don’t win elections that way.
JetBoy on January 30, 2009 at 1:58 PM
God help us, but Ana Marie Cox’s Twitter feed has some interesting stuff (albeit mostly because from Ambinder and Dave Weigel):
http://twitter.com/anamariecox
http://twitter.com/marcambinder
http://twitter.com/daveweigel
omriceren on January 30, 2009 at 1:59 PM
And argued for the admittance of minorities. What’s your point?
Kelligan on January 30, 2009 at 1:59 PM
[Zetterson on January 30, 2009 at 1:52 PM]
Well put.
Dusty on January 30, 2009 at 1:59 PM
+1 again.
therightwinger on January 30, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Dawson should have either dropped out, or been forced out.
Rae on January 30, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Steele’s run for a Senate seat here in Maryland was almost assuredly doomed to failure. He was running against a well-known Maryland Democrat; he was running when O’Malley was running for Governor of the state, thus guaranteeing a strong Democratic turnout from Baltimore City; he was running against massive anti-Bush (and Republican) sentiment.
Superman wouldn’t lost here. Steele didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell that year. He still ran a solid campaign, and managed to get the Leftie racists and race baiters all in a froth. He deserved better, but got what was expected.
I think he’s a great choice. He’s not an extreme right-winger, which probably pisses some of you off. But he’s got good conservative credentials, especially wrt small government and fiscal discipline positions, and can appeal to moderates (like me, for example).
nukemhill on January 30, 2009 at 2:00 PM
I’d like Steele to win but he should have been put in a few years ago. Now if he wins it will just look like Republicans put him there because Obama was elected and they had to do something to look good to minority voters.
They could have been leaders but choose to be followers in this situation.
Benaiah on January 30, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Electing Steele would be an excellent step towards rebranding of the GOP.
For one thing, this meeting looks like an Amway convention. It would be nice to see the RNC make a more sincere attempt to represent a broader spectrum of Americans.
I mean, let’s face facts here….the GOP has had an image problem for far too long.
It’s time we shake things up.
The Ugly American on January 30, 2009 at 2:02 PM
Ask Baldilocks….she came up with the idea.
LimeyGeek on January 30, 2009 at 2:02 PM
Um, someone asked a question, and I answered it. Maybe you should take your finger off the trigger there, son.
outOfElement on January 30, 2009 at 2:02 PM
+ 1 It makes me angry to have known people who didn’t vote for him, because they didn’t believe in black republicans. I’ve seen more of them then unicorns, that’s for sure!
Anna on January 30, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Agreed, but only to a point JB. Do not ask me or most Social Conservatives to concede the position of Right To Life or I will never vote for another Republican again.
I would rather concede to the Lefts abolishment of Capital Punishment to achieve true RTL before I’d see my party become a proponent of abortion rights. It’s not just a belief that I can bargin with, it’s who I am and what I’m made of.
hawkdriver on January 30, 2009 at 2:04 PM
He didn’t do so until after he’d already been a member for 12 years. PR nightmare in the making.
Slublog on January 30, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Just having Duncan this close gives me no confidence in anything the RNC will do.
Two losers are tied. Wow.
faraway on January 30, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Thanks for those. Interesting about people being shocked Duncan couldn’t win, and Steele and Blackwell are talking.
Enoxo on January 30, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Oh, if she’s involved, I’m sure there’s some sarc/ in there.
hawkdriver on January 30, 2009 at 2:05 PM
I would vote for Steele if he were white, black, Hispanic, or Asian. He is a great communicator. We need someone up front and centre who embraces appearing in the media and can put his ideas and the party’s ideas across.. Folks this is 2009 not 1909 or 1949.
technopeasant on January 30, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Bambi didn’t notice the marxist racism being shouted right in front of him for 20 years. Play fair.
LimeyGeek on January 30, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Seconded.
xyzzy on January 30, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Heh.
BadgerHawk on January 30, 2009 at 2:07 PM
I’m such an evil bastard….
LimeyGeek on January 30, 2009 at 2:08 PM
I agree, but that won’t make much difference in how the MSM is going to treat a Dawson win.
Slublog on January 30, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Volume just came back on the video. All candidates were seen speaking together. A deal struck?
Come on, Steele!
Enoxo on January 30, 2009 at 2:08 PM
What are you talking about?
baldilocks on January 30, 2009 at 2:09 PM
Anybody listening to Rush right now? Man, I love Hutch. He rocks.
capitalist piglet on January 30, 2009 at 2:09 PM
STEELE all the way!!!!
trainwife1962 on January 30, 2009 at 2:09 PM
Maybe the club had a rule stating that “Whites-only, have to pay to be members” ?
LimeyGeek on January 30, 2009 at 2:09 PM
I didn’t vote for Bambi either and I sure as hell wouldn’t vote for a guy that did the equivalent of sitting in Rev. Wright’s church for 20 years listening to that bigot spew hatred. Bigotry is bigotry and if you don’t agree with the rules of an organization you belong to, you leave. It’s that simple.
outOfElement on January 30, 2009 at 2:10 PM
hahah I loved the hutch’s laugh. hahaha. Totally smacking around barry too
ousoonerfan15 on January 30, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Easy lass….I’m just messing with somebody’s head ;)
LimeyGeek on January 30, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Don’t make me have to spank you!
baldilocks on January 30, 2009 at 2:11 PM
;-)
baldilocks on January 30, 2009 at 2:11 PM
anamariecox: My new BFF (frmr state chair giving me color commentary) says the only way Steele doesn’t win rncchair is if Duncan “acts like a d**k.”
chadmiles: I keep waiting for Duncan to say “Now witness the power of this fully armed and operation battle station”
Enoxo on January 30, 2009 at 2:11 PM
I don’t know Dawson but nowhere have I read anything that remotely suggests that one of his main selling points is that he is a great communicator. Could somebody out there correct me if I am wrong!
technopeasant on January 30, 2009 at 2:11 PM
There is no such person because the party has become overly diverse politically. You can’t have a party that caters to both fiscal conservatives and fiscal liberals and that’s what this party is trying to do at the moment. That’s why they are failing miserably.
The social side is almost as bad but it’s a fight between social cons and social moderates instead for the most part. That should be an area where a person could step in and try to appease both sides but social cons aren’t going to budge on certain issues so that complicates matters. And I say that as a mostly social con myself as I won’t budge on issues like abortion.
So the Republican party needs to decide what it is and go with that. Those left out in the cold after that decision is made can either continue to vote Republican in the old “lesser of two evils” mode or start their own party. I’ve already made my decision since the Republicans are too gutless to do it.
/independent conservative
Benaiah on January 30, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Or maybe Dawson was truly ‘progressive’ and ‘post-racial’ and wanted to fight the goof fight from within….?
LimeyGeek on January 30, 2009 at 2:12 PM
…*good* fight….
LimeyGeek on January 30, 2009 at 2:12 PM
I’m right there with you on that point. I may be a social moderate, but I’m adamantly a pro-lifer. We can’t budge on that. It’s a simple human rights issue.
JetBoy on January 30, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Lots of deals cooking. Rumor is that Duncan drops out to endorse Steele to block Dawson.
Enoxo on January 30, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Duncan just asked to address the group!
Enoxo on January 30, 2009 at 2:13 PM
At the RNC meeting, I attended what was billed as a session to discuss the future of the Republican party, although it turned out to be more of a cocktail party. What I found surprising and gratifying is how many African-Americans were in attendance, i.e., perhaps a third of everyone packed into the hotel room. I asked one of them what the core principle of the Republican Party should be that everyone can rally around, and she said “inclusivity.” I suppose that Michael Steele would symbolize that and act as a counterweight to the symbol that Obama provides for the Democrats.
NNtrancer on January 30, 2009 at 2:13 PM
ROFL I peed a little
LimeyGeek on January 30, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Uh oh. “A winds of change” speech.
LastRick on January 30, 2009 at 2:14 PM
DUNCAN WITHDRAWS!
Enoxo on January 30, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Duncan pulls out.
amerpundit on January 30, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Stepping aside? Concession?
LastRick on January 30, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Steele!!!! WhoAAaa!!!!
An Era of Hate on January 30, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Your Jedi mind tricks have no effect on me. Baldis on the other hand do.
Baldi, he said you claimed whites in the Republican Party are trying to make the internet “Whites Only” and it was your idea.
hawkdriver on January 30, 2009 at 2:14 PM
A lot of my love for Steele comes from the Ehrlich administration (Steele was our Lt. Governor under Bob Ehrilich). The administration was fiscally conservative, and they never promoted granola-coated feel-good crap that the libs would have liked. Ehrlich even took heat for saying that “multi-culturalism is BUNK”.
Bush’s biggest failing was communication. If he had done a better job of letting the idiot voters know what he was doing and why (often and loud), some of the animosity that caused Obama’s win could have been mitigated. GOP leaders of late cannot communicate. Steele does a great job, and he comes off as likeable, not elitist.
Laura in Maryland on January 30, 2009 at 2:14 PM
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