Robert Novak has an interesting report on what the President's advisors are saying to Michael Steele.
I can't argue about the cabinet advice. I have to agree that he could have more influence remaining in the media spotlight, rather than being part of a lame duck bureaucracy. I would have loved to have seen him as head of the RNC. It would have put him in the role of partisan though and part of his appeal in an overwhelmingly Democratic state was his independence. Whatever Steele does next, I have no doubt that he will be a huge success. If the programming people at CNN and MSNBC were smart, they would approach Steele with an offer. He is incredibly good on television and would certainly pull in some conservative viewers.
President Bush's political advisers are urging Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele neither to seek nor accept a Cabinet post but instead find a national platform on television or radio.While losing for the U.S. Senate, Steele attracted favorable attention across the country as an eloquent African-American Republican. Bush political strategists have told Steele a high-ranking post in the administration's last two years would curb his independence and cramp his style. Instead, they advised, he could be "a black Rush Limbaugh."
Steele was interested in heading the Republican National Committee, but his independence displayed during the 2006 campaign was not what the White House wanted there. The decision had been made weeks earlier to name Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida as general chairman and Kentucky National Committeeman Mike Duncan as national chairman.
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2006 Senate Race, General politics, Media
