Michael Steele Working on Newt Gingrich Endorsement as RNC Chair

It looks like former Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele is the favorite to become the next Chairman of the Republican National Committee. The impending battle between Steele and Newt Gingrich reported yesterday has now become Michael Steele likely to announce his candidacy for the chairmanship tomorrow, and a possible endorsement of Steele by none other that -- Newt Gingrich himself:

Michael Steele, former lieutenant governor of Maryland, has decided to run for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee and is in talks with Newt Gingrich to win the former House speaker's endorsement, FOX News learned Tuesday.

Steele declined to comment, but a source close to the situation said Steele would announce his candidacy as early as Thursday.

The source also contradicted a report in Tuesday's Washington Times that Steele and Gingrich were competing for the RNC post.

"There is no fight," the source said. "This tension between Michael Steele and Newt Gingrich is totally fabricated and, in fact, Gingrich and Steele are working together to create a new strategy for the direction of the GOP."

In a statement issued by the former House speaker, Gingrich said he was not interested in seeking the post of Republican Party chairman.

"A number of people have asked me to consider running for Republican National Committee chair. They have been very flattering, and I am very honored by their support," he said.

"However, my job as an American first is to develop a tri-partisan approach to developing solutions for the challenges we face. I use the word tri-partisan to designate the concept of attracting Democrats, Republicans, and independents to solutions that unify most Americans."

Meanwhile, Steele is said to be hoping that his entry into the race will scare off other hopefuls, including current RNC chairman Mike Duncan.

Others vying for the post include Chip Saltsman, who chaired Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign.

I believe Michael Steele would be great as Chairman of the RNC. He is a fine communicator and would be a great public face for the party. He is a man of ideas, and he would seek to rebuild the party around the conservative principles that have made the GOP a winner in the past - the same timeless first principles that can make the GOP a winner again.