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Palin stiffs the House Republicans

ABC News' Jonathan Karl reports: When House Republicans planned their annual winter retreat, they extended an invitation to Alaska Gov. Sara Palin, hoping the party's 2008 vice presidential nominee would give a morale-building speech to the more than 130 Republican...

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January 31, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (1048)

Steele: GOP Can Put Away Its "Scarlet Letter, 'R'"

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: Former Maryland Lt. Gov. and new RNC Chair Michael Steele speaks during the Republican National Committee's winter meetings in Washington D.C. Ferdous Al-Faruque/ ABC News Newly elected GOP chair Michael Steele said Friday that Republicans...

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January 30, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (164)

Steele Takes Party Chairmanship

ABC News’ Rick Klein and Teddy Davis Report: Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele was elected chairman of the Republican National Committee today, giving the GOP its first African-American leader as the party seeks to reframe its identity under the...

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January 30, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (373)

McCain Working on Alternative Stimulus Plan

ABC News’ Rick Klein Reports: According to a Reuters report out this afternoon, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is working with his fellow GOP senators to develop an alternative to President Obama’s stimulus package. “A group of us Republican senators are...

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January 30, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (93)

Steele Draws Close

ABC News' Rick Klein Reports: Michael Steele fell just six votes shy of being elected RNC chairman in the fifth round of balloting Friday afternoon. Steele garnered 79 votes, 10 more than Katon Dawson's 69. All eyes will now be...

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January 30, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (4)

Blackwell Drops Out -- Endorses Steele

ABC News' Rick Klein Reports: Big movement in advance of the fifth ballot in the RNC chairman's race: Ken Blackwell just dropped out and endorsed Michael Steele's candidacy. We'll see how many of Blackwell's followers take his cues -- but...

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January 30, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (3)

Dawson Pulls Into RNC Lead

ABC News’ Rick Klein and Teddy Davis Reports: Outgoing Chairman Mike Duncan’s withdrawal has shaken up the race for RNC chairman, with South Carolina GOP chief Katon Dawson pulling into the lead in the fourth round of balloting. Dawson picked...

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January 30, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (3)

GOP Prognosis -- Like the Opening Minutes of “House”

ABC News’ Rick Klein Reports: I went to the RNC’s Winter Meeting Friday to talk to some Republican activists and RNC members about what the Republican Party can do differently. We put together some highlights for the ABC NewsNOW program...

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January 30, 2009 in Politics Live | Permalink | User Comments (7)

Duncan Withdraws from RNC Race

ABC News' Rick Klein and Teddy Davis Report: Current RNC Chairman Mike Duncan withdrew from contention for another term at the helm of the Republican Party Friday afternoon -- clearly sensing that he would not gain majority support to stay...

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January 30, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (1)

Steele Surge Continues

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: Michael Steele is coming on strong. Here are the results from Round Three: Former MD Lt. Gov. Michael Steele: 51 Current RNC Chair Mike Duncan: 44 SC GOP Chairman Katon Dawson: 34 MI GOP Chairman...

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January 30, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (3)