Key supporters expect Steele to drop out of the RNC leadership race, top Republicans say. Steele to reveal decision Monday

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele intends to announce his reelection plans on Monday evening, and key supporters expect him to drop out of the hotly contested race, top Republicans tell POLITICO.

A new chairman will be elected next month during the committee’s winter meeting.


Steele, a former Maryland lieutenant governor, has built no known reelection team or structure, making the prospect of a campaign unlikely in the face of competition that grows fiercer by the day. But allies said Steele has not revealed his plans, and the chairman has been nothing if not unpredictable.

Republicans reaped heavy publicity in January 2009 when they chose Steele as the party’s first African-American chairman, but he has proven to be a poor fundraiser and gaffe-prone messenger.

Challengers for his job include Wisconsin Republican Chairman Reince Priebus; Ann Wagner of Missouri, former co-chair of the RNC; Maria Cino, a longtime Republican official who is backed by former RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie and former Vice President Dick Cheney; Saul Anuzis, former Michigan Republican chairman; and Gentry Collins, who served as RNC political director until last month.

At 7:50 p.m. on Saturday, Steele sent committee members a cryptic e-mail with the subject line, “Conference call”:

“Dear Members, Please join me for a private conference call, Monday December 13th at 7:30pm (EST). For your personal conference code please RSPV to ... Thank you, and I look forward to talking to you Monday evening. Michael.”

Three Steele critics who received the e-mail said they took the fanfare-free message as an indication that he is unlikely to mount a reelection bid.

The call will give Steele an extended platform to deliver a message to his committee. But if he were announcing a run, he would be more likely to build support by contacting members individually.

Nevertheless, supporters and opponents alike stressed that Steele’s plans are unknown. An RNC official did not respond to a request for comment.