The CRNC campaign thus far, plus what to expect

Colorado's Charlie Smith has had the floor for the better part of a month now, and while he has not used the open microphone very extensively, he is still the lone candidate in the race. For better or worse, whether you agree with his silence since announcing his candidacy or not, no one is exactly forcing him to explain himself.

No platform? No problem, because there is no one there to call him out about running for an office for which he has no plans for. No website? No problem, because no one else can say they have a better one. No announcement of a national chapter and state tour? No problem, because there is no need to get out on the stump for votes when there is no opposing candidate.

This past week, feathers were ruffled when Smith turned down the invitation to appear on a panel at CPAC, a panel which also featured Leadership Institute mogul Morton Blackwell. A group of state chairmen sent him an email expressing their displeasure for this move, but it was largely misconstrued as anger that Smith was appearing to slight the Leadership Institute. The real reason for the email? Well, it is right there in the email, for all to see: how can Charlie Smith claim to not be the CRNC's favored son when they chose him to appear on the panel? In 2005, when it came time for CPAC, Chairman candidate Paul Gourley was tapped to appear on the CRNC's behalf. The CRNC generally gets "their guy" to do this, and while Smith chose not to accept, the very fact that he was asked sends bad signs.

Next weekend is the planned summit of the key players in this election in California, at a pseudo-conference with Michael Davidson that looks to be a much more contentious version of Yalta, where the Churchill and FDR figures will not let the Stalin figure out of line an inch. This is not the first such meeting of the minds, but it is the broadest such gathering of this election season to date. Along with state chairmen and key figures like Davidson will be several key advisors to the former "Opposition" movement, which now finds itself seemingly splintered into a thousand little fragments, a mere shell of its former self.

Charlie Smith has had the ear of Davidson before, but came away without winning the key endorsement. Davidson signing on with Smith would be the death knell sounding upon any hopeful candidate looking get in the race, as California would likely be off the table and in Smith's column. All signs from former Real Reform principals Brian Siler and Brent Ludeman, both of whom will attend next weekend's gathering, point to New Jersey's Frank Luna as the current flagbearer. Luna, however, has been reluctant to commit to a run, taking more of a wait and see approach.

Time, especially in this campaign, is of the essence, simply due to the difficulty of getting College Republicans gathered together in large groups to address. Next month’s edition of CPAC is really the only chance for candidates to have the ears of a multitude of CRs from around the country until July’s CRNC Convention. The March 1 kickoff for CPAC is looming right around the corner, and it leaves only a week and a half after this weekend’s California summit to make preparations for a campaign kickoff. That is roughly ten days to book a location for the announcement reception/campaign kickoff event, get campaign collateral designed and printed, develop a platform for the campaign, organize a street team of supporters to get the word out and promote your candidacy, and get a fully-functioning website up and running. Ten days surely creates something of a time squeeze to say the least.

The next twenty five days will be among the most exciting of the spring for anyone following this CRNC campaign, and especially for those actually involved in it. Imagine this schedule for a random state chairman traveling this weekend to California:

Friday afternoon, February 16: Board plane for cross-country flight, plus connections and layovers en route
Friday evening: Dinner with the other attendees
Saturday, February 17: Meetings and discussions all day
Saturday night or Sunday: Board plane for return trip home
Monday through Friday (2/19-2/23): Classes, midterms, and state federation business
Saturday, February 24 and Sunday, February 25: In the case of Ohio’s Brian Siler, a Leadership Institute YLS and Ohio Board Meeting
Monday through Wednesday (2/26-2/28): Classes, midterms, preparing to travel to DC.
Wednesday afternoon through Thursday early morning: depart for CPAC, hotel check-in, CPAC registration
Thursday through Saturday (March 1-3): CPAC itself, all state federation gatherings, CRNC events, and any other meetings scheduled
Sunday morning, March 4: depart DC for home

In any case, this race will take shape over the next twenty-five odd days, and we will work here to keep you updated on every twist, every turn, every little bit of information that you need to know.