Reince Priebus used to be RNC Chairman Michael Steele’s closest ally. Now, Priebus is trying to take his former boss’s job.
Described by someone who knows him as, “likeable enough but a little socially awkward,” Priebus tendered his resignation as top legal counsel for the RNC on Sunday, December 5. The following day he announced his decision to run for the chairmanship, writing in a letter to committee members, “There is too much at risk for our party and, more importantly, for our country. That is why I am running for Chairman.”
According to reports, Priebus’ main duties under Steele consisted of putting out the fires that Steele started: soliciting letters of support when support was thin, running interference with donors, and perhaps most importantly, sticking with Steele when some committee members were actively considering calling for his resignation.
Priebus’ decision to challenge Steele came as a shock to many inside the RNC. In the weeks since his announcement, Priebus has mounted a serious campaign, emerging as one of the top challengers.
Priebus has been described by supporters as a “staunch conservative,” and judging from his public comments that appears to be accurate. “Real damage is being done by President Obama and the Democrats in power,” Priebus said in a video announcing his candidacy. “If they win another term, the damage could be irreversible.”
Not long after Priebus announced his candidacy, FrumForum reported that the law firm Priebus works for in Milwaukee, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, listed him as part of a team that helped secure stimulus funds for clients. Priebus denies the connection. “I have never worked on or been involved with that group or any group that involves stimulus money in any way. I’m not involved with any effort to secure any funds from the stimulus bill, period,” he explained. “I have discovered that the link on my bio page was put there in error. The link will also be removed as soon as possible.”
Despite the denials, conservative blogs seized on the story, accusing Priebus of trying to cover up his past. “If the Republican Party wants to regain its credibility with its base and a rising tide of Tea Party-minded voters, it simply cannot nominate…stimulus junkies like Reince Priebus to head its national organization,” wrote BigGovernment’s Dan Riehl.
So far the controversy doesn’t seem to have had much effect. Priebus appears to have wide support from former Steele supporters, and many have commended his record as chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party, including rising conservative star Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan.
Before taking over the Wisconsin Republican Party in 2007, Priebus worked as a committee staffer in the state legislature. He attended law school at the University Miami School of Law, and has clerked for the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Wisconsin, the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in Los Angeles.
Priebus will participate in the RNC debate January 3, 2011, hosted by The Daily Caller and Americans for Tax Reform.
This article is part of The Daily Caller’s weeklong series profiling the candidates vying to be the next chairman of the Republican National Committee. Those interested in participating in the chairman’s debate hosted by The Daily Caller and Americans for Tax Reform by proposing or voting on questions to be asked of the candidates at the Jan. 3 debate can go to www.rncdebate.org for more information.