Norm Coleman May Enter RNC Race

From Mike Allen at Politico:

Norm Coleman — former U.S. senator from Minnesota and the current chief executive officer of the American Action Network and Forum, a key outside GOP group — is likely to enter the race for Republican National Committee chairman now that Michael Steele is expected to announce that he will not seek reelection.

“Norm is leaning towards running, based on his ability to raise money and act as a national surrogate,” a close source said.

Friends say Coleman’s big push would be his ability to help the RNC retire its daunting debt: “I was the best fundraiser of all the Senate candidates.”

However, committee insiders say Coleman was hurt by leaked news that he had promised Steele he wouldn’t run against him, since many in the GOP are agitating for change.

Steele has announced a conference call with RNC members at 7:30 p.m. on Monday. Friends say that he has not revealed his decision, but that he sent them a clear signal that he’s dropping out, which is based, in part, on the erosion of votes in the past week that he had been counting on.

The vote, to be held next month during the RNC’s winter meeting, is a quirky, unpredictable process. But insiders say the heavy favorite in the race is Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, who is backed by Henry Barbour, nephew of Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour.

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