There has been a change at the top of the Republican National Committee, which Friday denied chairman Michael Steele's bid for another two-year term. Instead, the GOP's central committee elevated a little-known but highly regarded operative from Wisconsin who, in November's election, helped make that state one of the biggest success stories for Republicans in 2010.
The new chairman's name is Reince Priebus. His task now is to restore credibility to the RNC after Steele's rocky tenure.
The election started as a five-person race: Michael Steele and a quartet of challengers. Priebus, the Wisconsin state party chairman, was considered the early favorite.
The committee had 168 voting members. Priebus pulled ahead, but in ballot after ballot he still didn't have the 85 votes he needed to claim victory. Finally, on the seventh ballot, Priebus went over the top. Moments later, he addressed the delegates.
"I just want to thank God," he said. "I want to thank Jesus for this moment. I am so blessed, I've said this so many times."
Out With The Old
But Friday was not just about welcoming a new RNC chairman; it was also about saying goodbye to the old one. Michael Steele dropped out Friday after four ballots. He spoke briefly, softly, his voice tinged with emotion.
"We did a lot of good things," he said. "We worked hard. We built the party. But it's very clear the party wants to do something a little different, and hopefully, a little better. And this is tough, because it is what it is."
During his two years, Steele lost the confidence of the RNC. Once close allies -- Priebus among them -- RNC members turned against him. They criticized his management style. He was in the news too much -- and for the wrong reasons, like lavish spending on travel and questionable priorities. There were fundraising difficulties; many big donors stayed away, and the organization racked up a debt that it said Friday now totals $21 million.
But in his concession speech, Steele pointed to the election results in November. He called that his legacy, even amid the distractions.
"Despite the noise -- lord knows we had a lot of noise -- despite the difficulties, we won," he said.
Steele received a standing ovation from the delegates who had, in essence, just fired him.
Afterward, former RNC chairman and current delegate Mike Duncan of Kentucky said Steele bowed out gracefully, but that change was needed.
"The party wants to go a different direction," Duncan said. "We've got to bring our major donors back into the party. There's such a big task ahead. We've got to pay off the debt and then to get ready for the presidential campaign -- and the candidate in 2012."
'We're Going To Do It Right'
Meanwhile, Tea Party activists applauded the selection of Preibus. In Wisconsin last year, he worked with the Tea Party, joining forces to help the GOP carry all of the state's big races.
"In some states, you have a disconnect between the grass roots and the party," said Russ Walker of Freedom Works, one of the leading organizers in the Tea Party movement. "You just don't see that in places like Wisconsin. And you don't see it with a guy like Reince."
Moments later, out in the lobby, Priebus held his first news conference as chairman. He was asked about the Tea Party, which took on establishment GOP favorites in primaries last year and already has been critical of the new GOP leadership on Capitol Hill.
"I'm part of the grass-roots movement," he said. "One of the things I've said is that our party is part of the conservative movement in this country. We're not in competition with it; we're going to do it right. We're going to do it right and we're going to win in 2012, so thank you very much."
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