Steele takes the lead

Posted: Friday, January 30, 2009 1:41 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro and Mark Murray
Michael Steele has taken the lead in this race for RNC chairman, after what amounts to a third overtime here.

After the third round of voting, Steele is at 51 -- gaining three from the last round and five over all. Duncan has slipped to 44, down from 48 last round and 52 on first ballot.

No one achieved the needed 85-vote majority, so voting goes to a fourth round. There, again, will be a 15-minute recess, then another vote, and about 15 minutes to count the votes.

Dawson showed the most movement this round, picking up five. Anuzis remained at 24, and Blackwell lost four more.

But it's a bit of Groundhog's Day at this RNC race. In three rounds of votes, there has only been a total movement of 26 votes

"Steele picking up three, us losing four is tough," Duncan spokesman Chris Taylor said. He said is showing real movement and said he was surprised Anuzis stayed at 24

"This is a member-non member race," he stressed, adding that there are still 15 Blackwell votes, which likely went to Dawson this round.

He added, if "we continue this trend, and Dawson gets ahead of us," then he'll be very concerned.

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Comments

...and Republicans were counting on something like this happening at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

How can you pretend to lead when you can't even determine who your leader is?

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Friday, January 30, 2009 1:55 PM)

They HAVE to change the face of the Republican party. That's the most amazing thing about the GOPers. No one ever loses their job. There never seems to be any culpability or consequences. From the AIG junkets after the Bailout to the report earlier this week that less than 5% (I think) of those companies receiving bailout money actually 'shook up' the (mis)management of it all.

Some people make mistakes, they own them, they amend and move on. Others vote Republican.

PS. Apparently I am addicted to politics. Couldn't even go 24 hours.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Friday, January 30, 2009 1:56 PM)

When we get to the last quarter mile, give me a call.

Anna Molly (Sent Friday, January 30, 2009 2:01 PM)

If this is how the GOP votes without any Dem voters around then no wonder they think Coleman won with a deficit of 225 votes.

Bailey Quarters, Twin Cities, MN (Sent Friday, January 30, 2009 2:03 PM)

Listen: you have a known despicable wretch who'll violate any oath and break any election law to honor his code as partisan hack. Why are you wasting time with this Steele guy?

Changing name back to Stahl (Sent Friday, January 30, 2009 2:03 PM)

Blackwell, Blackwell, he's our man!
He'll fix elections all over our land!

Goooooo Kenny!

Yeah. I despise him. (Sent Friday, January 30, 2009 2:06 PM)

And spinning out of the fourth turn is...Man-of-War.

You don't need to post. I'm being snarly again.

Ron Indiana (Sent Friday, January 30, 2009 2:07 PM)

How much do you want to bet that Steele will win and the Republicans will sit back with a satisfied smile and tell the world that they are reaching out beyond their white regional base.

Then they will do what they did to Watts, shut him him out and treat him like dirt.

Andrea, New York City (Sent Friday, January 30, 2009 2:08 PM)

FR:

Thanks for following the process. I've never paid much attention to the selection of the party chairpersons. It's kind of interesting.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Friday, January 30, 2009 2:13 PM)

Clara, Kansas City:

I've considered rehab on a number of occasions.

I'm only familiar with a few smaller banks in my area that have received funds from TARP. For the most part the money simply shores up their capital base and is accounted for in a general way. They use it mostly to continue normal operations. The banks I am familiar with (smaller institutions to be sure) aren't acting according to the stereotypes I see presented here regularly.

People make generalizations about banks receiving money and then not lending it. My personal bank is managing fairly well right now and declined participation in the TARP program. The bank also has money to lend, but the simple fact is, lending DEMAND is not there at this point in the recession and forcing lending activity artificially is simply bad business. It has to come back in its own good time and 90% of Obama's package won't stimulate it.

I can't speak to the big guys, except for the observation that they are competing with my bank in my market area with TARP funds. There is something about that that bugs me a bit. Believe it or not, TARP funds are ostensibly given to "healthy" banks, though that is a very relative term these days.

I've also noticed a general stereotyping of nasty CEO's as Republicans. I think you would find that Democrats are amply represented in the mix.

For some reason, it doesn't seem to be of interest to anyone that Bernie Madoff was a Democrat, contributing $25,000 annually to Democrat causes.

I only mention this because your first paragraph, intentionally or not, simply links only Republicans to rich, nasty CEO's.

Just ramblin'.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Friday, January 30, 2009 2:26 PM)

As many have mentioned before, but no Republicrook has replied,why would anyone in their right mind want to be in charge of those losers? No matter who "wins??" they still will hope for a reincarnation of the person who lead them into this chasm, Ronald Reagan. They won't be happy until another conservative is chosen to keep them in the free fall they are in. Hey, Palin is currentlyl in the lower 48, why not put her in charge? Then she will have an excuse to move to Virginia.
Palin+Limbaugh in 2012!

A.Brocco,Albuquerque,NM (Sent Friday, January 30, 2009 2:35 PM)

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