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Florida GOP Leader Weighs National Party Job

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By BILLY HOUSE

bhouse@tampatrib.com

Published: January 1, 2009

WASHINGTON - Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer says he might join a half-dozen declared candidates for the Republican National Committee's top post.

The national party, seeking to rebuild after its poor showing in November and in the 2006 congressional elections, is scheduled to elect a chairman Jan. 30 in Washington.

As of now, Greer says he is not a candidate.

"I'm going to take a look at it," he said Wednesday, confirming an interest in the top RNC job that he floated a day earlier in an e-mail to fellow national party committee members.

Greer's interest comes as he and some other RNC members prepare to gather next week in Washington to hear from six candidates who have declared they are running.

In his e-mail, Greer, who served on the city council in Oviedo, near Orlando, thanked RNC members who he says have encouraged his potential candidacy. He also said he is weighing a number of factors, including his focus "on fostering an open discussion of the future of the Republican Party."

In an interview Wednesday, Greer said the declared candidates have asked to meet with him in Washington next week to solicit his support, and that he intends to hear them out.

Before he determines whether to seek the job, Greer said he will be focus on keeping his state chairmanship in a contest to be decided Jan. 10 in Orlando. Greer has opposition but appears headed to victory with the backing of Gov. Charlie Crist.

If he wins, Greer expects to decide on running for the national chairmanship a few days later, he said.

His late entry would come as others have launched Web sites to promote themselves and taken other steps to woo support from party committee members.

Others vying for the chairmanship are Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis, former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, South Carolina GOP chief Katon Dawson, current RNC Chairman Mike Duncan, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele and former Tennessee GOP Chairman Chip Saltsman.

Reporter Billy House can be reached at 1 (202) 662-7673.

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