Steele Yes, Newt No

There's a battle raging for the position of Republican National Committee chief, and the two guys who seem to be the leaders are Newt Gingrich and Michael Steele:

A behind-the-scenes battle to take the reins of the Republican National Committee is taking off between former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele.

Neither man will acknowledge his interest in the post, but Republicans close to each are burning up the phone lines and firing off e-mails to fellow party members in an effort to oust RNC Chairman Mike Duncan in the wake of the second consecutive drubbing of Republican candidates at the polls.

A bevy of backers for each man, neither of whom is an RNC member, say the committee needs a leader who can formulate a counter-agenda to President-elect Barack Obama's administration and articulate it on the national stage.

"The Republican National Committee has to ask itself if it wants someone who has successfully led a revolution," Randy Evans, Gingrich confidant and personal attorney based in Atlanta, told The Washington Times on Monday. "If it does, Newt's the one."

Yes, Newt was a miracle worker in 1994 and helped the GOP sweep to control of both houses of Congress. However, lest we forget, only four years after ascending to the Speakership of the House, Newt resigned in disgrace following an election drubbing in 1998 and revelations of problems in his personal life.

Michael Steele is a relatively fresh face, having served as Lt. Governor and run as candidate for Senate in Maryland in 2006, and is a great ambassador for the Republican Party. He's also black, and right now the GOP needs an outreach to minority voters. I'd like to see Steele get that job.