Contenders wanting to lead GOP to debate

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- A second round of Republican electioneering began in earnest Monday among the six candidates vying to lead the Republican National Committee.

The intense but largely unseen race moves into the public spotlight in a debate sponsored by the Americans for Tax Reform, USA Today reported.

The RNC's 168 members choose a new chairman Jan. 28.

Challenging current RNC Chairman Robert "Mike Duncan" are South Carolina Republican Chairman Katon Dawson, former Tennessee Chairman Chip Saltsman, one-time Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele and Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis.

Saltsman generated controversy by mailing RNC members a holiday CD that included the parody "Barack, the Magic Negro" to the tune of "Puff, the Magic Dragon," and Duncan surprised many by seeking re-election, the newspaper said.

John Pitney, a politics professor at Claremont McKenna College near Los Angeles and a former RNC researcher, told USA Today that Saltsman's gesture was "flat-out stupid" and should disqualify him, although Blackwell, who is black, said the mailing was of minimal concern.

Pitney called Duncan's campaign to be re-elected "highly unusual. At the end of an administration, usually the chairperson leaves. That's especially true if an election has gone bad."

Besides losing the White House, the GOP lost 21 House seats and at least seven Senate seats, with Minnesota's seat still undecided.

While blaming Duncan for a disastrous election cycle isn't fair, Mississippi GOP Chairman Brad White said the GOP needs "leadership that would come in with a new face and new ideas and better translate our principles into policy."