Breaking my rule of never linking to the Washington Times to bring you this story:

Some wealthy contributors are shunning the Republican National Committee and donating instead to the other GOP campaign committees or directly to candidates - in many cases because of discontent with the leadership of Michael S. Steele, the party's national chairman.

"I don't plan to give to the Republican National Committee this cycle, and no other major donor I know is planning to either," Christine Toretti, a Pennsylvania RNC member and a longtime major donor to the RNC and other GOP campaign committees and causes, told The Washington Times.

Mrs. Toretti said that she and other major donors have never received a telephone call from Mr. Steele soliciting money for the RNC, the GOP's chief campaign fundraising committee.

Lawrence Bathgate, who served a record three times as RNC finance chairman during and after the Reagan era, told The Times, "No, I haven't given to the RNC this cycle."

"I will help the Republican Governors Association and the National Republican Congressional Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee this year. I've made commitments," Mr. Bathgate said.

The article goes on to say that some RNC members are upset that Steele is promoting his new book and taking speaking fees while earning a good salary as RNC chairman.

Earlier this month, Steele claimed he wrote the book Right Now before being elected RNC chairman in January 2009, but TPM's Eric Kleefeld read the whole book and remarked,

Unless Steele is remarkably clairvoyant, it seems as though it could not have been written before he became chairman -- it is overwhelmingly a commentary on the political situation in America under President Barack Obama, as of late 2009.

The book is full of references to current events in 2009: The stimulus bill, the health care debate, foreign policy, ACORN, the party switch of Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the Tea Parties and the 9/12 March on Washington, etc.

It looks like a bleak election cycle for Democrats, but at least Republicans don't have great leadership at present. Without a large RNC war chest, the GOP may not be able to maximize their pickup opportunities.