Former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman says he still stands by his promise not to challenge Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele for re-election.
“I gave my word, and I got to live by that,” Coleman told The Daily Caller in a phone interview.
The Republican in recent months had signaled he was interested in the job, but said he wouldn’t run if Steele decided to run for re-election because the chairman had “been very supportive of me in the past and campaigned for me.”
But on Wednesday, Coleman quickly pointed out that his decision should not be viewed as sign of support for Steele’s re-election.
“The fact that I’m not running is not an endorsement,” he explained. “I’m not endorsing the chairman or anyone in the race.”
Steele on Monday shocked many of the 168 members of the RNC by announcing that he will run again for chairman.
Others running include former Michigan GOP chairman Saul Anuzis, former Bush administration official Maria Cino, Wisconsin GOP chairman Reince Priebus, former RNC political director Gentry Collins and former Missouri committeewoman Ann Wagner.
The Daily Caller in January is co-hosting a debate with Americans for Tax Reform for chairman candidates.