Blackwell's RNC Bid Gains Steam

The Washington Times ^ | December 17, 2008 | Ralph Z. Hallow

[St. Louis Conservative]

Texas Republican Party Chairman Tina Benkiser has teamed up with Ohio´s Ken Blackwell in the contest to lead the Republican National Committee over the next two years.

The Washington Times has learned Mrs. Benkiser has decided to forgo a run for RNC national chairman and instead to run for co-chairman, a traditionally less powerful position that historically, with one exception, has been held by a woman.

“If I ran for chairman, I decided after looking over the field, it might contribute to dividing the conservative vote and allowing a moderate to win,” she told The Times in a phone interview Tuesday.

In the draft of a letter to be sent to other voting members of the national committee, she writes that she “decided to run for the co-chair position because a chairman candidate has emerged who has everything it takes to help us restore our party and return to our winning ways. Ken Blackwell has the courage and experience to both lead and inspire us to achieve great things as a party.”

Mrs. Benkiser, a practicing attorney in Houston, is an evangelical Christian who, like Mr. Blackwell, opposes same-sex marriage and legalized abortion but, also like him, emphasizes “pro-growth” economic polices of low-taxes, small government and reduced regulations on business where possible.

Like Mr. Blackwell, she maintains the GOP doesn't need to be less conservative to win future elections but needs to have its elected officials at all levels of government adhere to the principles of spending restraint, low taxes and respect for family values and personal honesty for which the GOP claims to stand.

[LiberConservative]

(Blackwell) emphasizes “pro-growth” economic polices of low-taxes, small government and reduced regulations on business where possible.

If we can just stick with the policies we can sell.

[icwhatudo]

Ken Blackwell, Michael Steele's worst nightmare.

[icwhatudo]

“If I ran for chairman, I decided after looking over the field, it might contribute to dividing the conservative vote and allowing a moderate to win,” she told The Times in a phone interview Tuesday.”

Such a simple and easy to understand concept. Too bad this didn’t happen in the republican contest against McCain.

[BillyBoy]

My preferred choice is Blackwell. Back when GWB was foisting Martinez on us, I hoped Michael Steele would throw his hat into the ring. He didn't, and he disappointed me further when he backed ultra RINO Congressman Wayne Gilchrist in the primary over conservative Andy Harris. Gilchrist is so bad that even the "moderate" Governor Erlich was rooting for Harris in that race. Gilchrist lost the primary and backed the RAT candidate in the November election out of spite, and also had been endorsing Obama for a long time.

So it looks like Steele, though pretty conservative, is too cozy with the status quo. Blackwell has had a long track of elective office, and is independant of the RNC. He gets my support.

[SolidWood]

Why? I hate inter-conservative fighting. Has Steele also voiced interest in RNC chairmanship? Both are great guys. RNC chairman is not the peak of the world.

[gdani]

Please - anyone but Blackwell. The guy was creamed in Ohio's last race for governor.

And before anyone uses the tired excuse of, "well, it was a bad year for Republicans to run in Ohio" -- look at the vote totals. He lost by the biggest margin of any Republican running statewide in Ohio in 2006.

[Dr. Sivana]

“If I ran for chairman, I decided after looking over the field, it might contribute to dividing the conservative vote and allowing a moderate to win,” she told The Times in a phone interview Tuesday.

I appreciate her attitude.

[zerosix]

I don’t have a vote in this one (but am friends w/our national committee woman and she backs Ken) but Blackwell is the best of any names so far mentioned.

[BufordP]

Oh, come on. Taft ruined it for most Republicans running for office in Ohio. Much the same way Bush has ruined it for Republicans nationally.

[zerosix]

I don't believe that there is any "inter-conservative" fights going on here, just a genuine conservative with strong grass roots support, and semi-conservative with East Coast lib. support.

Anytime a "mod" (read lib) supports a "conservative" look closely as they rarely support a "conservative" but someone that they are able to control who appears conservative, when it doesn't count.

[BillyBoy]

Perhaps you might want to look at the "polls" about the incumbant Governor. Outgoing Governor Bob Taft was the LEAST popular Governor in the entire nation (we're talking single digit apporval rating) and poisoned the well for ANY Republican who sought the Governorship after him. Voters were fed up "Republican rule" of the Governor's office in Ohio and all the Dems had to his tie the albatross of Taft around Blackwell's neck (even though Blackwell consistantly opposed Taft, the Dems painted him as more of the same) and they'd coast to election easily. Running for Governor of Ohio with an "R" next to your name in 2006 was like running for Prime Minister of England from Neville Chamberlain's cabinent after he made a deal with Hitler.

Blackwell's track record BEFORE Taft had destroyed the Ohio GOP was highly successful, as his election as Mayor, State Treasurer, and Ohio Secretary of State have proven.

[PackerBoy]

Blackwell lacks the fund raising skills to lead the party.

[gdani]

Taft ruined it for most Republicans running for office in Ohio

Then why did Blackwell lose by the biggest margin of all Republicans running statewide in Ohio?

And only carried like 16 of Ohio's 88 counties?

That's all Taft's fault? Please.

[pallis]

We need a conservative in charge of the RNC who can turn 2010 into a national campaign, someone who can pull people and money together, and do it despite the lopsided media for Marxists. Any candidate who isn’t up to the task, should stay away. We need people who can stick to their conservative principles and communicate them to the suckers who fell for Obama.

[gdani]

,i>Blackwell's track record BEFORE Taft had destroyed the Ohio GOP was highly successful, as his election as Mayor, State Treasurer, and Ohio Secretary of State have proven.

His winning the Secretary of State race proves nothing. He ran against Bryan Flannery. Who? Exactly.

At least Barbara Sykes was a better opponent for Treasurer. But no one becomes head of the RNC for winning a Treasurer's race in Ohio.

And Mayor of Cincinnati? Please. The position was almost without power during that time in Cincinnati. Just ask Jerry Springer.

[icwhatudo]

IMHO Steele is not as conservative as people think. I think people get blinded by his color and the (r) next to his name.

[BufordP]

BB, though the Republican party got a thorough butt-kicking in statewide offices, the Taft "gubernatorial" corruption scandals prove nothing! </sarc!>

[Eagle of Liberty]

So it looks like Steele, though pretty conservative, is too cozy with the status quo. Blackwell has had a long track of elective office, and is independant of the RNC. He gets my support.

He gets my support as well. Steele is good, but BLACKWELL IS BETTER!

GO BLACKWELL! - i missed saying that since 2006....

[Eagle of Liberty]

And before anyone uses the tired excuse of, "well, it was a bad year for Republicans to run in Ohio" -- look at the vote totals. He lost by the biggest margin of any Republican running statewide in Ohio in 2006.

First of all, that is NOT a tired excuse. Second of all, there were MANY forces against Blackwell including his own party since many of them like Jim Petro were lined up with Taft. Do you even know anything about the guy? He was incredibly effective at every public office that he held including Secretary of State where he opposed much of what Taft was doing.