Maryland's former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele was named chairman of the Republican National Committee. Steele is the first black national chairman in the party's history.
Steele promises that his installment will mark "the dawn of a new party." GOP delegates also seemed pleased by his election, as several them literally applauded the outcome on Friday.
"The winds of change are blowing," said former RNC chairman Mike Duncan.
Duncan abandoned his re-election bid amid dwindling support throughout Friday's voting.
Steele's race, I believe, made him an appealing choice in a Republican Party that has, in many ways, alienated minorities. Likewise, the slice of voters who call themselves Republican has narrowed, as one journalist reports.
Race aside, insiders believe the fact that Steele wasn't a member of the Republican National Committee and was also the most moderate among competing candidates gave him a decided advantage.
GOP operatives hope Steele can revive a party that was -- as former President George W. Bush said-- "repudiated" by voters in the 2008 elections. The first black candidate elected to statewide office in Maryland, Steele, it appears, has what it takes to restore the party back to favor.
So far, Steele pledged that the GOP will be more competitive in 2009 and beyond. "We want you to be a part of us, we want you to be with us," he said.
"There is not one inch of ground that we're going to cede to anybody."
No comments:
Post a Comment