GOP Struggles (and Twitters) to Close Tech Gap

Former loyalists lash out at ex-president in race for new chairman

(NEWSER) - In deciding on a new chairman, Republican National Committee members are wrestling with ambivalence about George W. Bush, the Washington Post reports. Incumbent Mike Duncan, appointed by the former president, faces something of a backlash. Duncan “never criticized Bush when the president was wrong,” says one member. “He’s the agent of the establishment, and we need a change in personnel.” More»

Candidates look lightweight compared to Va. guv, DNC chair

(NEWSER) - Since Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine took over the Democratic National Committee last week, Republicans—in the midst of choosing Kaine’s RNC counterpart—are concerned that their contenders aren’t quite in Kaine’s weight class, reports Politico. Imagining the inevitable on-air debates, one Republican stresses the importance of choosing “someone who can express themselves so that the American people can know what the hell they’re talking about.” More»

Would-be RNC chairs bash forlorn party, wax poetic about the '80s

(NEWSER) - Asked to name their favorite Republican president, the six men vying to chair the RNC delivered a unanimous verdict: Lincoln, Schmincoln—bring back the Gipper of yore, said they. At a debate yesterday, the would-be chairmen labored mightily to top each others’ love of Reagan, Dana Milbank writes in the Washington Post. Each was “excited,” “inspired,” or even “moved” by Reagan. The only thing they agreed on more was how crappy the GOP’s gotten since. More»

Anonymous e-mails accuse candidates of racism, incompetence

(NEWSER) - Things have gotten ugly in the race to chair the Republican National Committee, in which a vote is due tomorrow. Anonymous e-mails have thrown some hard elbows, the Washington Times reports—one this week featured a mock-up USA Today front page reading, “RNC members choose ‘whites only’ chairman,” warning of potential fallout if Katon Dawson, who until recently belonged to a whites-only country club, was chosen. More»

In a "very, very, sleepy" race...

(NEWSER) - A largely thankless job running a down-and-out party—no wonder these guys are fighting tooth-and-nail. Politico handicaps the candidates for Republican National Committee chair:

• Mike Duncan: The current RNC chair’s record is mixed. Despite his prolific fundraising, he presided over both the 2008 disaster and the mini-rebound the party enjoyed in elections after November 4.