S.C. GOP chairman one of six vying for role of RNC leader

By John O'Connor - The (Columbia) State

COLUMBIA -- The six men vying to head the Republican National Committee, including S.C. state chairman Katon Dawson, Monday laid out their plans to return the party to power during a debate in Washington.

Most of the candidates agreed that Republicans need to improve their outreach to black, Hispanic and young voters groups Republicans lost by wide margins in November's election.

"Put them in the game and let them play the game," said Michael Steele, former Maryland lieutenant governor, about how the party needed to embrace those voters. Steele, along with former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, is one of two black candidates running for RNC chairman.

The candidates also praised President-elect Barack Obama's campaign effort, with most admitting they needed to adopt the Democrat's use of technology and voter outreach. Obama, Dawson said, had caught the party flat-footed.

Republicans need to be on the offense, Dawson said, pointing out Democratic failures and recruiting good candidates.

Obama, he said, has given Republicans the "gift of an overreaching government ... that will take our rights away."

The candidates were critical of President George W. Bush.

Michigan GOP chairman Saul Anuzis cited Bush-led spending and deficits, while current RNC chairman Mike Duncan said the prosecution of the Iraq war was Bush's biggest blunder. Former Tennessee GOP chairman Chip Saltsman faulted the Bush White House's communication, while Blackwell criticized its support of the federal bank bailout.

Election on Jan. 28

Dawson pointed toward early issues the president pushed, such as privatizing a portion of Social Security and immigration reform.

Those issues "tore our party apart and cost us electorally," Dawson said.

The debate is one of a host of events this week as the 168 Republican National Committee members prepare to elect a chairman Jan. 28. Today, a small group of committee members are meeting, while the full committee is meeting Wednesday.