Reince Priebus, RNC Chairman

Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, is running to be the national chairman.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

State GOP chair Reince Priebus has jumped into a tumultuous race to be the Republican Party's next national chairman, telling fellow party members he would bring "less drama, more hard work, more results and more focus on winning.”

That message is an indictment of current chairman Michael Steele, whose controversial public profile and management of the party organization has alienated many committee members despite the GOP’s remarkable performance in the 2010 mid-term election.

Priebus had been a key ally of Steele’s. He ran Steele’s campaign for RNC chair last year, was asked by Steele to head his transition committee and has been serving as RNC general counsel under Steele, a post Priebus has now resigned in order to run for chairman.

But in a video message accompanying an e-mail Priebus sent to RNC members, the Wisconsin lawyer said: “I don’t believe we can win the presidency without a highly functional RNC, and unfortunately we don’t have that today.”

Priebus made it clear his bid for the chairmanship will lean heavily on his performance as state GOP chair in Wisconsin, where Republicans enjoyed their best mid-term election since 1938. Wisconsin was the only state where the GOP gained a US Senator, a governor, and both chambers of the state legislature.

With Steele’s term ending in January, opposition to his re-election has built within the party and multiple candidates have emerged for the post. Steele has not yet announced whether he is running again.

In his letter to fellow RNC members, Priebus noted the party's historic victories in Wisconsin, citing his success raising money, recruiting candidates and working well with the Tea Party.

The accompanying video message includes testimonials from Governor-elect Scott Walker and Janseville congressman Paul Ryan. Walker told reporters in Madison Monday he though Priebus would be "a great RNC chair."

"When I took over as (Wisconsin) Chairman we started with just about nothing and now we just celebrated arguably the greatest Republican victory in the history of our state," Priebus wrote.

Watch Priebus' video message.



I think Priebus would be a terrific choice to chair the national party.

What was accomplished under his leadership in Wisconsin's 2010 elections was historic.

I trust him to oversee the effort to maintain the energy and commitment from the 2010 victories in order to bring about real hope and change for the country in 2012.