Decisions, Decisions

As everyone is heading home to spend Christmas break with family and catch up with friends unseen in months, a few things are becoming more clear in the horseless race that is the CRNC election. First of all, I have surely focused on College Republicans all too much. An interesting topic it may be, and I will still cover it thoroughly, but broader discussion will once again rule the day, after the holidays. I also apologize for the utter neglect I have shown Red State Rampage over the past weekend, but sometimes family and their well-being simply must come before all else. Anyhow, without further bullshit, here are a few observations on the state of the CRNC:

-Nothing is certain. Nothing at all. Remember this, above all, in the coming weeks. Those who you think may be running for higher office may not be doing so at all in the end, and those who you thought were sitting this one out may wind up on a ticket after all. There is much fluidity in this race right now.

-No one is talking about Charlie Smith's meeting with Michael Davidson, at least publicly or on the record. Just my own observation here: if the meeting had went extremely well (i.e. an endorsement or an agreement of any nature at all) you would be hearing about it. It is very funny to me, though, that two years removed from the last National Chairman campaign, it is the defeated candidate who means more to this race than the one who got elected. This may go a long way toward my personal theory that the past election was not actually won, but Paul Gourley merely survived it.

-No one is releasing any new supporters at this point, but this does not mean there are no discussions taking place. The 15 odd chairmen who have not chosen sides are all holding out, and all are doing so for their own separate reasons.

-Neither of the sides in this fight will keep all of the states who have endorsed them. There will be battles to succeed a great many state chairmen, and there will surely be casualties. Do not be surprised at all to see a couple of sitting state chairs knocked off in re-election bids, but it will not be related to the national campaign. When you do not do the job you were elected to do, people will look elsewhere for leadership.

-There is a growing list of state chairmen not seeking re-election, and a couple of chairmen who are already stepping aside. Aside from Andrew Lamar (Virginia) recently completing his term, Missouri's Justin Smith has resigned due to graduation. Michigan's Dan Carlson, Arkansas' John Burris, and Colorado's Charlie Smith are all planning to call this term their last as well. At least one state chairman whom is definitely running for re-election is Florida's Scott Wacholtz, and many others will definitely be making decisions on that matter at hand very soon.

-There is a growing realization by the CRNC Executive Board that a mistake was made last spring in not recruiting friendly candidates in enough states. Do not be surprised if there is a complete reversal of this strategy come 2007. For the record, outside meddling in states is completely uncalled for, but it happens. Some may even deem it necessary. Be assured, that if Gourley and Co. come knocking in your state, the opposition will follow along like a pack of hungry dogs, and vice versa.

-From talking to all parties involved, there is a consensus that people want to see a clean campaign this time around. Everyone also agrees, generally speaking, that the moment someone fires the first salvo of grapeshot, the race will get very nasty in a hurry. Let us hope this does not come to fruition.

-CPAC will be back and better than ever, no doubt with many an open bar (this is a CRNC election year after all). Besides the three-ring circus that is the CRNC, there is another important race: the one to be the GOP candidate for President in 2008. There will be no shortage of fireworks, and if we at Red State Rampage see checks being tossed about in turn for support, we may just incite a riot or three.

-Campus activists everywhere are salivating at the prospects of the incoming Donkey-dominated Congress. As the Clinton's were to high comedy, so shall this Congress be to galvanizing conservative activists.

There will be plenty more news and commentary posted in the coming week, as well as our interview with incoming Virginia CR Chairman Jarrett Ray, so be sure to stay tuned. And whether it offends you or not, please consider this my personal wish to you to have a Merry Christmas!