RNC

Kentucky-native Mike Duncan is wrapping up his first term as the chairman of the Republican National Committee after an election in which Republicans took losses in the House and Senate in addition to losing the White House. Around the country, speculation is whirling about potential candidates for the chair position even though Duncan has yet to make an announcement as to whether he intends to seek a second term.

Yesterday, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele announced his candidacy for the RNC chairmanship, which is to be awarded in a January election. Several others are said to be considering a run along with Duncan.

In his home state, there is not surprisingly a considerable amount of support for Duncan - including the two other voting members of the RNC from Kentucky - though there appear to be some fractures among others.

A Courier-Journal report published earlier this week found U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Hopkinsville) suggesting the RNC needed to look elsewhere for leadership.

"He's a fine fellow and everything, but I think we've got to move in a new direction," Whitfield said of Duncan.
Republican Party of Kentucky chair Steve Robertson, however, said he is solidly in Duncan's corner should the Inez resident decide to seek another term.

"First and foremost, my loyalty is to Mike Duncan," Robertson told PolitickerKY.com. "He's done a great job in a tough environment at the RNC. He's a hands-on chairman which is very similar to the way I operate at the Republican Party of Kentucky."

MINNEAPOLIS – Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan told PolitickerKY.com he expected crossover voters – including supporters of U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) – to benefit his party’s presumptive presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

“We’re going to get a substantial amount of Democratic voters,” said Duncan about McCain’s chances in Kentucky.

Duncan, a resident of the eastern Kentucky town of Inez, added that he thought some “Hillary Clinton voters” would bolster McCain’s support in the Bluegrass state.

Clinton is popular among many Kentucky Democrats. The senator from New York won the state’s May 20 presidential primary by more than 35 points over the Democrats’ eventual nominee, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). After last week’s Democratic National Convention, Clinton’s Kentucky campaign chair said some Clinton delegates still had reservations about supporting Obama.

Former ambassador to Latvia Cathy Bailey will be the Republican National Committee's "Victory" finance chair for Kentucky this election cycle.

In a release dispatched in conjunction with the announcement, the RNC notes each state's "Victory" chair "will lead the party's efforts in the states to ensure Senator John McCain and Republicans up-and-down the ticket have the necessary resources to communicate our message and mobilize the vote."

The fundraising position is not the first for Bailey. She served as Kentucky finance chair for President George W. Bush's re-election bid in 2004. Prior to that role, she was a member of the Republican National Committee from 2000 to 2004. She also served as co-chair of the Republican Regents fundraising organization.