RNC Chief Sacks Staff; Feds Probe His 2006 Race

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»

Old guard tries to force spending regulations on Steele

(NEWSER) - Behind closed doors at the Republican National Committee, a battle’s raging over how much decision-making power chairman Michael Steele should have and, by implication, how much the party trusts him. Some RNC members, led by Treasurer Randy Pullen, the Arizona party chairman, are pushing strict oversight on Steele’s spending power, reports Politico. They say such measures have been standard in the past, but a Steele ally calls it an “attempt to usurp the chairman’s authority.” More»

(NEWSER) - How can the Republicans get back to being a big-tent majority? “I can’t believe I’m saying this,” writes Eugene Robinson in the Washington Post, but “it should start by paying more attention to the all-too-quotable Michael Steele.” Sure, the party chairman might be crazy, and might have delusions of grandeur, but he’s made some good points—before apologizing for them, anyway. 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»