Reince Priebus Leads First RNC Ballot [LIVE thread]

Roll Call ^ | 01/14/2011 | Kyle Trygstad

[iowamark]

Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Reince Priebus led after the first ballot in the race for chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Needing 85 votes among the 168 members to win, Priebus took 45 votes in the first round. Trailing Priebus after one round is Chairman Michael Steele with 44 votes, former RNC official Maria Cino with 32 votes, Michigan Committeeman Saul Anuzis with 24 votes, and former Missouri GOP Chairwoman Ann Wagner with 23 votes.

Several more ballots are expected before someone reaches the 85-vote threshold. Steele won the 2009 race after six rounds, defeating a five-candidate field that included Anuzis and then-Chairman Mike Duncan.

All eyes are now on Steele to see if his support begins to dwindle. In 2009, Duncan dropped out after three rounds after watching his vote total dwindle from 52 to 44. He had led after the first round and was tied with Steele after the second round.

The sense here is that if Steele did not finish in first place after the first ballot, he would have a difficult chance of winning. Still, much of the talk among members before this vote centered on whether Steele would leave the race when it became apparent he could not win...

[TomGuy]

85 to win	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th
Reince Priebus	45	(+7) 52	(+2) 54	(+4) 58	(+9) 67	(+13) 80	(+17) 97
Michael Steele	44	(-7) 37	(-4) 33	(-5) 28	Out	Out	Out
Maria Cino	32	(-2) 30	(-2) 28	(+1) 29	(+11) 40	(-6) 34	(-6) 28
Saul Anuzis	24	(+3) 27	(-6) 21	(+3) 24	(+8) 32	(+5) 37	(+6) 43
Ann Wagner	23	(-1) 22	(+10) 32	(-4) 28	28	(-11) 17	Out

Steele withdraws at end of 4th, endorses Cino

Wagner withdraws at end of 6th, no endorsement.

[NormsRevenge]

May he do for the National GoP what he helped do in Wisconsin.

[9YearLurker]

That’ll do ‘em in for sure!

[Constitution Day]

Hehehe. :)

[Indy Pendance]

Congratulations to Reince, I hope he does for the country what he did here in Wisconsin!

[newzjunkey]

I don’t know what Steele "did wrong” but I only hope Priebus is effective.

So... in summary: black guy out, Latina woman passed over. RNC elect white guy?

[Taxman]

Precisely what does the color of a person’s skin have to do with the RNC chair?

Aren’t we about content of character rather than color of skin?

[Ted Grant]

Precisely what does the color of a person’s skin have to do with the RNC chair?

As a primary qualification, nothing. But part of the job is marketing the GOP, and the GOP has a problem with the unfair depiction as a political party of out-of-touch, easily befuddled white guys that get their positions through nepotism and inside connections.

The fact is, that's probably more true for the dems, but it doesn't matter. There is no downside to the GOP changing that perception, but with qualified and quality personalities.

But it's unwise to cultivate a fantasy world where it doesn't matter at all.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

So, is that Priebus a hybrid?

[Candor7]

I hope he gets asked right off, as the new chair his camp connections must be severed, if not, he will be in hot water right off the bat. Somehow I think he is too smart for that. Its 2 months down the road that he really needs to be watched and grilled, then we will know if he is getting around to all of the GOP camps or not.If not, then a fire needs to be lit.HIs first test will be a viable relationship with the Palin camp, and a refusal to knuckle under to McPain.He also should be heloing Tom DeLay raise some legal defence money, quietly and effectively.

Lets see if he survives the first wash of MSM slime fest of political correctness for having the supposed rascist temerity to oust a black man fair and square.

You are right about holding Priebus’s feet to the fire.They could not do that with Steele , the first untouchable GOP chairman in decades, who spoiled an excellent chance to really get the job done. Instead he towed the RINO line until it was too late. He failed to rise to the greatness that could have been his.He may make his mark yet, by working hard for the party in ways only he can.

[sefarkas]

Haley Barbour for POTUS! Best of the current alternatives.

[9YearLurker]

Are you pro-amnesty like Haley?

[Al B.]

Looks like Haley Barb9ur is back in the saddle (by proxy) at the RNC. I’m sure the suits on K Street are happy.

[Al B.]

Barb9ur = Barbour

[alancarp]

Arrrgggghh!! I give up!!

[The Shrew]

Actually, Missouri lost a seat in the 2010 Census and Wisconsin didn’t.

Gosh, I hate it when I'm wrong and don't take time to verify everything. Does that invalidate the rest of my point?

Thanks,

TS

[johnthebaptistmoore]

You know that the MSM and entertainment world will be talking about a “spoiled, rich, white guy with a spoiled, rich, white guy’s name” being the next RNC Chair, and the left won’t stop, until his duration as RNC Chair is over. The left will be doing its best to score political points, just by making fun of the new RNC Chair and his name!

[alancarp]

Yeah, really (btw, I'm in Alabama now - escaped NC). I have a theory about names: the more bizarre your name is, the more likely you'll be a public figure of some sort.

Witness a couple of Alabama political names from this year:
> Twinkle Cavanaugh (a new public service commission; gender: male)
> Young Boozer (the new AL state treasurer)

Go figure.

[paudio]

But it's unwise to cultivate a fantasy world where it doesn't matter at all.

This needs to be repeated more often.

[newzjunkey]

Precisely what does the color of a person’s skin have to do with the RNC chair?

You know the Left and press will be all over it.