Can Michael Steele Hang On as Republican Leader?

Nov. 16, 2010— -- Talk to Republican Party insiders these days and they will tell you that Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is in deep trouble. They say there are slew of potential challengers waiting to topple him as head of the party. Problem is, so far only one has stepped up.

Last week, former Michigan Republican Party head Saul Anuzis said that although he considered Steele "a friend and colleague" he was concerned about the party's ability to "provide the financial resources we need to support the organizational efforts and ground games of our state parties" in 2012.

Steele has yet to officially announce he is running for another term as chairman, and while Anuzis was the first contender to publicly challenge him, he may not be the last. A short list of potential chairman hopefuls seems to grow longer by the day.

That list includes Wisconsin GOP Chairman Reince Priebus, former Missouri GOP chair Ann Wagner, Connecticut Republican Party head Chris Healy, former RNC Chairman Mike Duncan, former North Dakota GOP chairman Gary Emineth, California GOP chief Ron Nehring, former RNC official Maria Cino, former Nevada Gov. Bob List and failed California Republican Senate candidate Carly Fiorina, among others.

"There have been almost as many sightings of RNC chairmen candidates as Big Foot, and they're about as real," said one member of the Republican National Committee who requested anonymity to speak openly about internal dynamics of the chairman's race.

The source added: "I'm unconvinced that any name that has been floated so far can win, and I am absolutely convinced that no name floated so far starts with a larger base than the chairman currently has."

But on Monday, several Steele detractors sounded more confident in news reports about their chances to find a viable challenger.