Steele won't back down on moderates

By ANDY BARR | 3/4/09
Politico

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele on Wednesday refused to retreat on his pledge to back primary challengers against the three GOP senators who voted in favor of President Barack Obama's $787 billion stimulus.

"I'm not backing down from that," Steele said during an interview on Laura Ingraham's radio show. He then qualified his response by pointing out "the reality is that that's something that is going to come from the states."

"The state chairmen and the leadership of the states are who are making the decision whether or not they're going to be supporting these candidates. That's part of that process," he said. "I'm a former state chairman and that was within my purview as a chairman to deal with that, and I'll want to back it up with support from the national party at the appropriate time."

Steele first revealed he might oppose Sens. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) when he was asked last week by Fox News host Neil Cavuto if he is considering supporting primary challengers against the three wayward Republicans. "Oh, yes, I'm always open to everything, baby, absolutely," Steele responded.

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