GOP's Steele Really Might Have a Plan (or He's Nuts)

But most think his job's safe for now

(NEWSER) - CBS is floating a successor for Michael Steele who should make both sides of the aisle equally giddy: One Sarah Palin. Citing "talk in GOP circles," the network's top White House correspondent says, Palin is "the star of the Republican Party. She's the top endorser, top fundraiser—and now could be the party's top dog." More»

'Is it because a black man is chairman?'

(NEWSER) - Michael Steele suggests his race has something to do with the knocks he's taken since becoming chairman of the RNC in an interview with Washingtonian magazine. The interview isn't online yet, but Greg Sargent of Plum Line has an early peek: Steele acknowledges that he can "take things too far," but then wonders why there is so much media coverage of the internal workings of the RNC. More»

Steele accused of misusing 2006 campaign funds

(NEWSER) - New RNC chief Michael Steele is quickly making headlines, but not exactly of the good-news sort. The Post reports that he's laid off practically all of the RNC staff, a not-too-startling development given the GOP's big election losses, but one that forces him to start from scratch as the party tries to hold its own against the Obama administration. Steele also is facing allegations of financial shady business related to his 2006 Senate race. More»

(NEWSER) - Michael Steele emerged from a grueling contest today to become the first African-American chairman of the Republican National Committee, Politico reports. The six-ballot process, the most drawn-out in years, ended in the rare election of a non-member. “This is awesome,” the former Maryland lieutenant governor said, drawing a laugh. He said he accepted the post with “a great deal of humility and a sense of service.” More»

Two of 6 candidates are black; may offer needed image change

(NEWSER) - Having lost the presidency to a Democratic party making new demographic inroads, the GOP faces a revealing choice about whether to elect a black party chairman, reports the New York Times. As Republicans try to rebuild in the wake of the election, two black candidates, in a pool of six, may promise an image change. The candidates are Ken Blackwell, a former Ohio secretary of state, and Michael Steele, former lieutenant governor of Maryland. More»