Race becomes issue in RNC chairman bid

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Race and ethnicity have become a central issue as the campaign for U.S. Republican National Committee chairman enters the final stretch, GOP operatives say.

"I have heard all the candidates talk about it," Illinois National Republican Committeeman Pat Brady told Politico.

"That's where we got killed in the presidential (election)," he said. Six contenders are competing to present themselves as "the most minority-friendly candidate" who would open up the party to new voting groups, Politico reported.

Among the six are former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell and former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, both African-American. Others include Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis, born to Lithuanian immigrants, and incumbent RNC Chairman Mike Duncan.

Republicans captured just 4 percent of the black vote in the 2008 presidential race.

Steele and Blackwell are not positioning themselves in racial terms, Politico said.

But the Washington political publication said some GOP leaders believe the moment is ripe for the RNC to have a black chairman, especially to challenge Democratic U.S. President Barack Obama.

"If the nation can celebrate the first African-American president, I would think the Republican Party would celebrate if we had the opportunity to celebrate an African-American national chairman," Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer, who supports Steele, told the newspaper.

The RNC develops and promotes the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It also organizes and runs the Republican National Convention.