Republican Leadership Election

California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring talked about the election the previous day of former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele as the new chairman of the Republican National Committee. Mr. Steele served as lieutenant governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007 and is chairman of GOPAC. He defeated the incumbent Republican Party Chairman Mike Duncan and three other challengers over six rounds of voting to become the first black to lead the party. Mr. Nehring has served as chairman of the California Republican Party for two years. He did not publicly support any candidate for chairman prior to the election. He discussed the future of the Republican Party and concerns that the party is becoming a regional party of the South. A video clip was also shown of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell talking about regionalism and concerns that Republicans would become a long-term minority party at the the 2009 Winter Meeting of the Republican National Committee on Thursday, January close