Jim Greer

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist may find a lesson in the Van Jones story. Be careful who you appoint, when they mess up it may come back on you.

Republicans in Florida have been furious with the Governor since he embraced President Obama on stage in March. But Crist didn’t stop there. He rallied behind Obama in support of the stimulus package and raised taxes.

If Crist’s recent appointee, Sen. George LeMueix does poorly in the Senate, that could spell trouble for Crist, who opted out of a second term as governor to pursue the Senate seat himself.

Crist pulled Republican’s from all across the state to interview for the Senate seat. Its been reported that Crist kept multiple lists of possible appointees. One list of legislators --and another list of everybody else.

Here's a snapshot of “everybody else” on the same list as LeMueix --

Jim Greer, Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida; close Crist advisor.

Greg Truax, businessman and close advisor to Crist.

Nancy Watkins, businesswoman and fundraiser.

Al Austin, businessman, fundraiser and CEO Austin Companies.

Michael Pinson, fundraiser and CEO of Pinson Communications.

Al Hoffman, fundraiser and CEO of WCI Industries.

Yes, all lapdogs. Every single one.

On Friday, Marc Ambinder provided the latest scuttlebutt on the potential candidates for RNC Chairman. The names mentioned in the piece, in this order, include:

• Alec Poitevint, National Committeeman for Georgia, and the piece says, favorite of McCain insiders, though whoever leaked that was probably not trying to do him any favors.
• Chuck Yob, former National Committeeman for Michigan
• Katon Dawson, chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party
• Jim Greer, chairman of the Florida Republican Party
• Chip Saltsman, Mike Huckabee's campaign manager and former chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party
• Saul Anuzis, chairman of the Michigan Republican Party

We'll be following this race very closely starting November 5th (assuming there is a race and McCain doesn't win). This job becomes symbolically more important if Republicans are the out party, as the chairman becomes one of the three public faces of the party with the House and Senate Republican leaders. This probably means the most public RNC Chairman's race in the party's history this winter.

The big question to my mind is if a grassroots favorite will emerge from this pack a la Howard Dean. RNC rules were recently changed to welcome candidates from outside the committee -- though in practice this had been waived to make room for many of the President's appointments.

There is a lot of talk around DC about who will be the RNC Chairman if John McCain were to lose. I generally hear about four candidates:

• Saul Anuzis, Chairman of the Michigan GOP
• Katon Dawson, Chairman of the South Carolina GOP
• Jim Greer, Chairman of the Florida GOP
• Shawn Steele, incoming National Committeeman of the California GOP

There is also talk that non-RNC-member elected candidates could run. (note that RNC rules require that the Chairman be a member of the Committee, but that can often be fudged with a supportive state party)

If McCain loses, the RNC Chair would likely be the public leader of the party. It is unlikely that Mitch McConnell or John Boehner, the presumed leaders of the Congressional party, would have the time or the umph to be public leaders like that. (although, I have at times thought that Boehner could do it)

The RNC Chairman's race will also have strong implications for the 2012 Presidential primary. Mitt Romney is widely seen as having a substantial foot up because of the scope of his organization for 2008. It is likely that he would have a preferred candidate in the RNC Chairman's race to keep tabs on the whole process.

We all very sincerely want McCain to win. But the maneuvering over the Chairman's race is going on full-speed ahead and we intend to follow that in addition to the Presidential race, Congressional races, party growth, etc.

Consequently, please share information about this with us. We get a bunch as it is, but the more people reach out, the more we can document what is happening and make a difference in the process.