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 on.
“Obviously, the winds of change are blowing at the RNC,” Duncan told RNC members in Washington, to a standing ovation.
Duncan, who had the burden of being the hand-selected choice of President Bush to lead the RNC, placed first in the initial round of balloting, but was well short of the 85 votes he needed to win.
The decision narrows the field of candidates to four — with former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele and South Carolina GOP Chairman Katon Dawson surging in the third round of balloting. The second choice of Duncan’s supporters — Duncan still garnered 44 votes, good for second place, in the third round of balloting — could be critical in determining the winner.
Duncan is well-liked by committee members but his association with Bush burdened his candidacy at a time when the party is looking for a way to come back from the electoral drubbing it has taken in the last two elections.
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