Mike Duncan dealt blow at RNC meeting

By GottaLaff

Oh-h, suh-nap!

What was supposed to be a boon for Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan turned into a bust Tuesday when a group widely seen as aiding his reelection campaign canceled a planned straw poll at the last minute.

Meeting in Washington, the Conservative Steering Committee, a group of 90 conservative members of the RNC, spent Tuesday interviewing all six major candidates for chairman. But members voted to reject a straw poll, which was supposed to gauge whether the group deemed candidates conservative enough to lead the RNC.

Though Indiana national committeeman Jim Bopp Jr., who organized the steering committee, has told The Hill that the group admits members regardless of their chairman preference, the straw poll had been seen as a vehicle for Duncan supporters who were aiming to give his candidacy a boost with just three weeks to go before RNC members vote. A victory in the straw poll might have given Duncan the ability to claim an early lead in advance of the Jan. 31 vote.

Seen as perilous for most candidates, the straw poll died at the hands of an alliance of attendees backing former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele and former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell. Duncan backers largely supported the straw poll, while those backing other candidates split, according to sources who were present.

He was just grasping at straws, I guess.