ABC News' Teddy Davis and Tahman Bradley report: Michael Steele told National Public Radio Tuesday that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is backing the former lieutenant governor of Maryland in his bid to be the chairman of the Republican National Committee.
"Newt's decided not to run for the job and he's in fact supporting me in my efforts,” Steele told NPR.
"Newt is an idea guy," Steele added. "He's the professor he's the thinker. He's the one who crystallizes emotions and policy and opportunity all into a package that helps the party begin to speak with clarity on some of these complex issues. I'm very happy to have him help me do that."
Steele's comments to NPR suggest that he has won Gingrich's endorsement for RNC chair which is not the case a Gingrich spokesman told ABC News.
"Newt is not endorsing anybody.. and is not planning to endorse anyone," Gingrich spokesman Joe DeSantis said.
"Michael is one of several RNC candidates who are running that he thinks would make a good RNC chairman," but the former House speaker is not showing a preference for anyone in particular he added.
In a Nov. 12 interview on the Fox News program "Hannity and Colmes," Gingrich praised Steele as a "great great talent" when the possibility of Steele ascending to GOP chairman came up.
"He certainly would offer the kind of vivid strong voice that we could use and I think that the party would do very well if he ends up being chairman," said Gingrich.
"There are a number of other strong people who are running. The chairman of South Carolina is very effective good friend of mine. Saul Anuzis the chairman from Michigan is running. But Michael Steele certainly is going to be in the front ranks..."
RNC members are slated to choose their next chairman when they meet in January. The party chairman will be responsible for helping the GOP regain power after a 2008 election which saw Democrats win the White House and strengthen their grip on the House and Senate.
Steele who is African-American made an unsuccessful run for the U. S. Senate in 2006. Since then he has stayed active with GOPAC an organization which backs conservative candidates for office.
Newt is such a cry baby he is why the party is in such disaray He championed this idea of the cut throat RNC he was how and why Tom DeLay got to be what he was and he was called the hammer. The GOP just can't help thmeselves they have to bring out the snotty remarks and vailed speach onward my friends continue on just as before. You won't see the GOP letting too many people of color or of a different stripe anytime soon. They will bring on Sarah Palin and she can be thier new hammer!
That dirty EVIL Sean Hannity so evil look at his evil face When watching FOX Channel you tend to become so tense and never relaxed with this idiot fool Sean and another old ugly evil Bill O'Reilly so very negative and looking at their evil faces So disturbing Learn from Andersen Cooper and Wolf -so balanced and relaxing with their views GREAT AMERICA LOVELY AMERICAN PEOPLE NEVER AGAIN LISTEN TO EVIL SEAN AND BILL THEY WILL FACE FIRES OF HELL SO DIVISIVE AND EVIL EVIL EVIL
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http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/11/steele-to-npr-n.html
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