Opponents of a second term for Steele are hoping he will see the writing on the wall and politely bow out of the race.

“I worry Steele would try to make this an ‘us versus them’ sort of thing, so I hope he will count the votes and decline to force an unpleasant race that he cannot win,” said one committeeman…

Some Republicans mused that if Steele were to receive an offer to lead one of the outside groups that spent big in the 2010 elections, he might seize the opportunity. (Steele served as chairman of GOPAC before becoming RNC chairman. Current GOPAC Chairman Frank Donatelli declined comment for this story.)