Contenders jostle to be GOP top dog

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The six contenders for the Republican National Committee chairmanship say they're trying to gain an edge over their rivals before next month's election.

The candidates have announced alliances, endorsements and plans to restore the bruised GOP to power in the race for the party's top spot, Politico reported Thursday.

Two direct meetings are scheduled in January, when the candidates face off in a debate hosted by the conservative Americans for Tax Reform and later seek support from the RNC's Conservative Steering Committee in the run-up to the election at the end of January, the Washington publication said.

Seeking to run the GOP are incumbent Mike Duncan, Michigan state GOP leader Saul Anuzis, South Carolina Republican Party Chair Katon Dawson, former Maryland GOP chief Michael Steele, former Cincinnati Mayor and Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell and former Tennessee Republican Party chief Chip Saltsman.

Among the attention-seeking efforts Politico noted were Steele's development of ethics regulations, Anuzis' advertising to RNC members his "Blueprint for a GOP Comeback," and Duncan's announced plan to form a new conservative think tank. Also, Blackwell announced he was forming a ticket with Texas Republican Party Chair Tina Benkiser, who is running for RNC co-chair.