Reince Priebus elected new RNC chairman

Reince Priebus.

Republicans went to the Heartland today for their next party chair, choosing Wisconsin attorney Reince Priebus to head the Republican National Committee for the next two years into and through the crucial 2012 presidential election cycle. His tenure begins effective immediately.

Priebus, the Wisconsin state party chairman since 2007, won on the seventh ballot with 97 of the 168 votes. Eighty-five were needed for victory. Second was ex-Michigan state chair Saul Anuzis and third was former Bush campaign official and GOP operative Maria Cino, who was endorsed by new House Speaker John Boehner.

The current chairman, Michael Steele, had mounted a surprising and hopeless reelection campaign after November's resounding election victories.

But the 24-month tenure of the first African American to head the party of Lincoln was troubled from the get-go with missteps, administrative errors, speaking gaffes, alienation of other established party leaders and, worst in the eyes of party faithful, terrible RNC fundraising efforts that prompted many large donors to give elsewhere. The party says it is currently more than $20 million in debt.

After the fourth of seven ballots today, Steele withdrew, saying, "I hope you appreciate our legacy. After all the noise, after all the difficulties, WE WON!" He received a standing ovation.

Priebus had momentum coming into the voting at the RNC's regular winter meeting. A staunch conservative, Priebus helped engineer a pickup of two House seats in his state last November, as well as recapturing the governor's office after eight years and defeating longtime incumbent Sen. Russ Feingold.

"We have to get on track," Priebus declared after his win, vowing to focus on fundraising immediately for what experts expect to be a billion-dollar presidential campaign in 2012 -- on both sides. Immediately after the tally, Boehner issued a statement of firm support for Priebus.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: Liz Sidotti / Associated Press (Priebus); Alex Wong / Getty Images (Steele).

Comments

[James Monk]

I am glad to see Mr. Priebus elected to this office. I am a democrat in Louisiana, most because my area seldom has republican running. I always vote republicn for president the last thirty years and vote that way for our elected leaders the last 15 yrears.
I do have a concern that some of the newly elected as well as some older elected officials my make the mistakes of the past, giving Obama a push back into office. I don't thin Newt or Palin will help and most likely will hurt the party very bad. I am very consertive but there is noway I could ever support either, non would most of the people down here.

[Max Harlan II]

When in Gods name are the republicans going to get with the program. They need to think about a Woman to fill the position of RNC.
Please RNC get your head out of your back side and quit putting people up as candidates that are not electable or is that part of the overal political scheme of things in this country.

Quit Screwing arouund and find a GOOD DECENT candidate and then back him or her completely and Yesa I siad her I think a female republican Candidate with her feet on the ground and her head out of her ass would be able to beat OBubba. So get with it and get your collective heads out of your collective asses and THINK, search, and find a candidate that is electable.

God save the USA

[ARTHUR CRAWFORD]

I am waiting and watching to see if the republican party has the courage to charge Rep Michael Cupuano Democrat of Mass. the crime of inciting to riot. He has publically called for blood in the street. This is not mere overheated rhetoric. I wonder what would happen if people took him at his word . Gadhafi is telling his followers to bloody the streets. WHAT NEXT FOR US ?

[Deanna Edwards]

I heard this Reince Priebus speak this morning, what a condescending man he is. Boy do y'all have your work cut out because his ideas are the same old ideas when the Republicans were in 2001 for 6 whole years. And that's when this mess started rolling. I NEVER heard anything about working together or compromise....what an elitist!

[Jim Hoqwll]

Stay the course. That's why the Representatives were elected to dothe right thing and reduce the budget for thils year's buget.

[andrew gabel]

Why aren't we more vocal agaist Obamas policies.He is going to campaign for a year and a half and we sit back and say nothing.What is our problem.Are we afraid of him and his party.WE BETTER GET STARTED BEFORE ITS TO LATE!!! Get romney to start campaigning or get out!!!!! Trump is going to ruin the party.Get him out of the campaign and "GET SERIOUS"

[charles d. hartmann]

For what LITTLE it may be worth, I am strongly in favor or Representative Garretts ammendment to the Republician reduced spending plan .

[Albert]

Yes, redistribu­ting it. To the military, and then everything else (depending on what they can afford). Damn greedy citizens wanting more spending overseas.

It's not their money? So...how are people supposed to get this money you speak of? Get a job? What job? What if they're sick? How are they supposed to pay for their healthcare if they are one of the many screwed over by major corporatio­ns? How are they supposed to pay for anything if they can't get well enough to work?

Socialism not working. Damn socialism! If it would only go away, we'd be living in a utopia. Like the pure capitalism of the pre-20th century. Like the good ol' days when a man could keep a few slaves around to do his dirty work and not be branded a monster.
Stop caring so much about other people's money. The rich are still going to be able to afford all sorts of things you'll never even see, don't worry. The GOVERNMENT can create jobs. These jobs allow people to spend, providing businesses with revenue revenue, allowing them to employ more people, creating more jobs. Take health insurance. If run by the government­, everyone would get it, meaning there would be significan­tly more jobs in the medical industry in your country. Win win.
And, between an incredibly rich person losing a fraction of their income and a poor person living a pointless life without the help that could make them productive­, I see no argument.

[James Lechel]

I am mad as hell that you voted for the Ryan legislation.
I have paid into Social Security for 36 years and now that I am retired you asses with your great healthcare package and retirement pension want to gut Medicare and Social Security. I am going to do everything I can to kick the Republicans out of office. I am a white man that is completely disgusted with the racist attitude of the Republican Party. You people have lost your mind.