New Hampshire Republican Party Chair Jack Kimball, who won his post in the key presidential primary state earlier this year with the help of Tea Party activists, resigned the same office Thursday night at a meeting of the state party executive board — following pressure for him to step down due to problems with fundraising and personnel, and just before the board was expected to officially vote him out.
The Concord Monitor reports:
“Don’t do it, Jack!” yelled a supporter as Kimball made his announcement last night inside a Holiday Inn conference room in Concord, where onlookers gathered around a long table seating the 36-member executive committee.
“I have come to the conclusion that even if, during a vote, if I were to win – and I know the odds are against that – it would be next to impossible for me to fulfill my obligations as chairman moving forward given what’s been against me,” Kimball said. After speaking for four minutes from the head of the table, he received a standing ovation from the executive committee and those in attendance.
The state GOP has had fundraising and personnel problems this year, since Kimball took over, and has also lost a number of special elections for the state legislature. In response, numerous state GOP leaders, including freshman Sen. Kelly Ayotte, called upon Kimball to resign.
Over the past two weeks, Kimball alleged that state House Speaker William O’Brien approached him to convey a message from the Republican Governors Association that they would donate $100,000 to the state party — but only if Kimball resigned.
“I won’t stand for that kind of deal-making – neither will the voters – and they deserve to know the truth,” Kimball declared last week.
