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...

[READINABLUESTATE]

Steele just stepped down

[clintonh8r]

incompetent, big-mouth, show-boat, Narcissistic RINO?

But I'm talkin' 'bout Shaft!

[Marty62]

Agreed.

[DocH]

But I'm talkin' 'bout Shaft!

Shut yo mouf! :)

[Crichton]

Standing ovation from the RNC

*shrug*

Everyone was happy:

His fans clapped to thank him

His detractors clapped because he was dropping out

[who knows what evil?]

Maybe Steele can find a position with the current administration...

[Marty62]

I full expect that or to become a pundit for CNN or MSNBC.

[romanesq]

Steele has dropped out:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/01/14/rncs_steele_steps_down_very_clear_party_wants_something_different.html

Says the party wants something different. Guess so. Had hopes for him, he seems like a good man but his time is past as RNC Chair.

[skr]

What does it matter how he pronounces his name? Pronunciation is normally from the parents, not from oneself. This isn’t about being a country boy, this is about being mature. Reverse snobbery isn’t anything to be proud of.

[who knows what evil?]

It will be interesting to see where Steele’s votes go...

[Marty62]

He woke up to late concerning the Power of the Tea Party. He made a valiant run to try to make amends, but the damage was done.
This was inevitable.

[snippy_about_it]

You’re a FL transplant from NY. We’d say you are the one with an accent.

[TomGuy]

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

[Marty62]

Priebus now at 67.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Prebius picks up 9, Cino 11, Anuzis 8.

Wagner didn’t get any of Steele’s support; she’s probably done.

[Crichton]

Candidate	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	1st to 2nd	2nd to 3rd	3rd to 4th	4th to 5th
Reince Priebus, Wisconsin	45	52	54	58	67	7	2	4	9
Maria Cino, New York	32	30	28	29	40	(2)	(2)	1	11
Saul Anuzis, Michigan	24	22	21	24	32	(2)	(1)	3	8
Ann Wagner, Missouri	23	27	32	28	28	4	5	(4)	0
Michael Steele, Maryland	44	37	33	28	w/d	(7)	(4)	(5)	n/a
Write-in	0	0	0	1	1?	0	0	1	?
% vote for leader	27%	31%	32%	35%	40%	4%	1%	2%	5%
% vote for 2nd place	26%	22%	20%	17%	24%	(4%)	(2%)	(2%)	7%
	168	168	168	168	167

From Brian Bolduc... missing 1 vote.

[Candor7]

Well how it goes is anyones guess, depends on the RINO Steele group. Lets hope they do not follow Steeles direction,and vote at least independently.

Reince has public momentum for him, and he has the wave of the TP behnd him. No other cadidtae has that acceptence and momentum.Lets hope they are smart enough to know it and see it as a positive development.Or the fire will fly between the PACs and the GOP fundraising effort. Reince can bring the party the most money, the others will be on their knees to the wrong people all over again.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

If he wins, then you KNOW that the MSM and entertainment world will be attacking him and making fun of his name a lot, during his entire duration as RNC Chair. “Some spoiled white, male, rich brat...” The left will use his name as a distraction from how well he will, hopefully, do as RNC Chair.

[longtermmemmory]

looks like steeles endorsement carried not weight (or respect from those who voted for him)

Now it is ann wagner’s step out time.

Cino needs to lose more votes in the next round.

[MrB]

I found the pronunciation online.

Ryns Pree-Buhs

Ryns like rinds without the d.