The Republican National Committee is firing back at a scathing resignation letter dropped by RNC Political Director Gentry Collins today.
Sort of.
In a brief statement, RNC spokesperson Doug Heye offered up a defense of the RNC’s fundraising apparatus under Chairman Michael Steele — but offered only a vague defense in response to Collins’ charge that of the money Steele raised, he spent poorly. Nor did the RNC respond to Collins’ claim that the party has been left with crippling debt that must be paid off before the 2012 cycle begins.
“For the first time in 16 years the Republican Party held neither the White House or either Chamber of Congress,” Heye wrote. “Despite lacking that fundraising advantage, the RNC was able to raise more than $175 million, over $24 million more than the RNC raised during the entire 1994 cycle and over $36 million more than the DNC raised during the entire 2006 cycle, indexed for inflation.”
In his letter, Collins said that Steele’s inability to raise enough money to pay off the RNC’s debts meant that the party didn’t have the money it needed to to back its candidates fully — and Republicans lost as a result.
In the statement responding to the letter, Heye reiterated the grassroots strategy Steele has been touting for months.
“Our resources enabled us to expand the playing field to all 50 states and break records with 45 million voter contacts, over 200,000 volunteers, 360 Victory field offices and 358 Victory field staffers,” the statement reads.
The underlying irony to the RNC leadership fight, of course, is the fact that the GOP swept the Nov. 2 elections, kicking Democrats out of Congressional seats and governorships across the country. Steele has tried to grab some of the credit for that as Republican backslapping continues in Washington, but the letter claiming Steele actually made it tougher for Republicans to win — coming from his own political director — has made Steele’s case tougher to make, to say the least.
Still, in the statement today, the RNC continued to try and get its piece of the Republican’s stellar night Nov. 2.
“These accomplishments are shared by our entire team at the RNC as well as volunteers, donors and state parties,” the statement reads. “Their efforts enabled us to contribute to the most successful elections for the Republican Party in modern times.”
