31 state GOP chairmen back Steele

NEW ORLEANS — A majority of Republican state party chairmen have
signed on to a letter supporting Michael Steele.

Thirty-one state GOP
chairmen have now signed on to the letter, which seeks to
take some pressure off the Republican National Committee chairman
in advance of his speech to the Southern Republican Leadership
Conference on Saturday.

One state party chairman, Tom Fetzer of North Carolina, has called for Steele to resign in the
wake of revelations that the RNC expensed a nearly $2,000 dinner at a
risque, bondage-themed nightclub in Los Angeles.

“As Republican
Party state chairmen, we believe Chairman Michael Steele can lead the
RNC to be a full partner with us this fall in our efforts to fire Nancy
Pelosi and win Republican majorities in Congress and among governors,”
reads the letter. “His record at winning elections has been stellar, his
fundraising ability has been solid, and he has honed our Victory
programs’ ability to identify and deliver voters for Republican
candidates.”

Here are the 31 chairmen who have signed on:

Randy Ruedrich, Alaska
Ron Nehring, California
Dick Wadhams, Colorado
Chris Healy, Connecticut
Tom Ross, Delaware
Robert Kabel, District of Columbia
Sue Everhart, Georgia
Jesus Torres, Guam
Jonah Ka’auwai, Hawaii
Norman Semanko, Idaho
Pat Brady, Illinois
Steve Robertson, Kentucky
Charlie Webster, Maine
Audrey Scott, Maryland
Jennifer Nassour, Massachusetts
Ron Weiser, Michigan
Tony Sutton, Minnesota
Will Deschamps, Montana
Mark Fahleson, Nebraska
John Sununu, New Hampshire
Jay Webber, New Jersey
Harvey Yates, New Mexico
Robert Tiernan, Oregon
Rob Gleason, Pennsylvania
Gio Cicione, Rhode Island
Chris Devaney, Tennessee
Dave Hansen, Utah
Steven Larrabee, Vermont
Pat Mullins, Virginia
Luke Esser, Washington
Reince Priebus, Wisconsin