The request has drawn attention from national political media because it highlights the on-going rift between the Tea Party and establishment wings of the Republican Party, with a state GOP chair seeming to side with the Tea Party.

But Thomas' letter focuses instead on the claim that Martin is overstepping his bounds by getting involved in another state's election.

“This is an outrageous infringement on the Mississippi State Party, and ultimately an infringement on the sovereignty of each state party,” wrote Thomas. “While I don't agree with items that have come out from BOTH campaigns, I am not in Mississippi and do not feel it is ours or the national parties right to get involved in an individual . . . campaign. If he is going to put us into the controversy, I think he should have had the decency to ask us first.”

Martin relayed Thomas' letter to other committee members Wednesday afternoon, with his own comments, which he provided to us in an email today.

In it, he says he talked with Thomas, that she agreed with his condemnation of the “racist” ads against McDaniel, and that he would “take to heart Pat's concern that I communicate more readily with you.” He also notes he is a member of the RNC, which does have a role in oversight of party activities around the country.

“That state [Mississippi] should take care of its own elections . . . My aim to get to the bottom of this racist conduct,” Martin wrote.

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