Fred Thompson Drops RNC Bid for Return to Acting

Continuing with my catching up on things theme here…

It looks like the race for RNC Chair has tightened a little more.

I mentioned a few days ago that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s bid for appeared to be losing steam and now comes word that Fred Thompson is dropping out of the race in favor of a return to acting.

Putting aside the fact that I don’t think Thompson was ever really in the race that leaves Michael Steele as the only prominent Republican/conservative still in the running. Not everyone is crazy about him but I don’t think he would be a bad choice.

Unfortunately, I don’t think RNC members will choose Steele… I suspect they’ll choose a new chairman from within their own ranks… If media reports are right the top contenders among RNC members are:

• Robert M. “Mike” Duncan, 57, the current RNC chairman
• Katon Dawson, 52, the South Carolina GOP chairman
• Saul Anuzis, 49, the hyperactive Michigan GOP chairman
• Tina Benkiser, 46, Texas GOP chairman
• Jim Greer, 46, Florida GOP chairman
• Chuck Yob, 71, an RNC member from Michigan who is reportedly retiring from the committee.

Tina Benkiser is the only one of that group who is even mildly interesting to me… I’ll admit I don’t know much about her but at first glance she seems to have solid conservative credentials and she would bring young fresh face a Republican party that is viewed in many quarters as old and out of touch.

Newt’s Prospects Fading in Quest for RNC Chair?

The Washington Times is reporting that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s bid to be the next RNC chairman may be losing steam.

From the Washington Times:

GOP governors and state party chairmen say former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will be a leading Republican spokesman but not as its national chairman, a post likely to be filled by someone from within the ranks of the 168-member Republican National Committee.

Mr. Gingrich, considered a one-man idea factory who had wanted to be drafted for the top party post, would not give up his leadership of two other organizations he already heads, and that pretty much took him out of the running, interviews with Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, his fellow GOP governors and several influential state GOP chairmen indicated.

The Times story goes on to mention several other potential candidates including current RNC chairman Mike Duncan and Texas GOP Chairwoman Tina Benkiser.

I confess I don’t know much about Benkiser but at first glance she seems to have solid conservative credentials.