It's been interesting to watch the results of the various ballots in voting for RNC Chair. You need 85 votes to win and while incumbent Mike Duncan was not a prohibitive favorite going in by any means, I did think it was amusing that it was looking as though this Bush appointee who presided over such an electoral rout for his party might squeak into the spot again. Well, sadly, it looks like the RNC is poised to bring in some new blood after all. Who that will be, however is still up in the air.

From TPM:

Incumbent Mike Duncan, who presided over the Republican party's nationwide routing in the November elections, has withdrawn from the RNC Chair race, he just announced. On the third ballot, Fmr. Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele finished in first with 51 votes. An 85-vote majority is needed to win.

What's amusing about the prospect of Michael Steele winning is that, you'll recall, he distributed signs during his run for Senate in 2006 saying "Steele Democrat." But it looks as though he's getting a last minute challenge from South Carolina Republican Party Chair, Katon Dawson, who has just taken a slim lead on the fourth ballot. Dawson, it so happens, is a member of a country club that until recently was all-white.

Stay classy, RNC and bring the change!

Update [2009-1-30 15:8:23 by Todd Beeton]:Ken Blackwell dropped out after the 4th ballot and threw his support behind Michael Steele. Blackwell had 15 votes.

Update [2009-1-30 15:36:45 by Todd Beeton]:After 5 rounds, Michael Steele is in the lead with 79 votes (he needs 85 to win.) Saul Anuzis has just dropped out but did not endorse. Steele's only challenge is Katon Dawson, who has 69 votes. Anuzis's 20 votes are up for grabs so it's still either man's race. They're now going into 6th round of voting.

Update [2009-1-30 16:13:41 by Todd Beeton]:Michael Steele won the chairmanship 91-77.

Steele is proud to lead "Our proud and strong Republican National Committee.""To those who believe in the conservative principles that have made us the strong and proud party that we are." Chuckle.

"We're going to bring this party to every neighborhood, boardroom, street corner...and to those who want to obstruct, get ready to get knocked over." Sounding very 50-state strategy-y except for the whole threat of violence thing.

"To my friends in the Northeast, get ready baby, it's time to turn it on." Sassy. "And work to do what we always do well and that is win." Ummm, riiiiiight.

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While an RNC candidate for party chairman seizes the opportunity presented by Jesus's birth to distribute repulsive, racism-dripping parodies of the President-Elect, the current chairman, Mike Duncan, expresses shock (shock!). According to Politico, Duncan responded to the patently offensive display of Christmas cheer with the following feigned outrage:

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