By Michael Falcone
Published: 01-02-09
The race for chairman of the Republican National Committee is already shaping up to be a contentious battle between several high-profile candidates — including the current chief Mike Duncan.
But party leaders led by Gary Emineth chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party have called for a special forum to allow each of the contenders to outline their visions for the future of the G.O.P. bypassing Mr. Duncan and the party organization in Washington.
Mr. Emineth and nearly two dozen other R.N.C members from around the country petitioned for the forum which will be held on Jan. 7 in Washington. It’s the first time members have gone around the party hierarchy to call their own meeting.
“Most Republicans do not know who the R.N.C. chairman is or anything about this process” Mr. Emineth told The Hill newspaper which first reported the meeting.
“The more exposure of the candidates their values and how they intend to turn the party around is good for public input and debate.” (Mr. Duncan told The Hill that he supports the rights of party members to organize the gathering.)
It will be held the same week that the candidates for chairman will face off at a debate organized by Americans for Tax Reform as well as at a private forum hosted by the Conservative Steering Committee.
In addition to Mr. Duncan other candidates in the running for R.N.C. chair include Katon Dawson the chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party Saul Anuzis the chairman of the Michigan G.O.P. Chip Saltsman who managed Mike Huckabee’s presidential campaign Michael Steele the former lieutenant governor of Maryland and Ken Blackwell the former secretary of state of Ohio.
Mr. Saltsman injected the contest with a dose of controversy over the weekend when he circulated a song called “Barack the Magic Negro” to supporters.
The use of the parody tune which was first broadcast on the Rush Limbaugh radio show last year was roundly criticized by Republicans including Mr. Duncan and Newt Gingrich the former House speaker.
Though Mr. Saltsman said the song was meant to be “light-hearted” Mr. Gingrich for one said that it was “so inappropriate that it should disqualify any Republican National Committee candidate who would use it.”
The election of the next R.N.C. chairman will take place at the party’s winter meeting in late January and it is likely to be a multiple-ballot contest.
