Dawson Denies Plotting To Overthrow Steele

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South Carolina Republican chairman Katon Dawson has moved to quash a report that he’s behind an effort to kick out Michael Steele, sending this statement to Jim Geraghty:

I support Michael Steele. Our Committee elected him knowing that he can lead us during this critical time for our Party. The people behind this anonymous rumor are clearly intent on dividing the Republican National Committee and our Party at a time when we need to be united.

It may well be true that Dawson isn’t behind any attempt to boot Steele. On the other hand, he hasn’t done a particularly sterling job of supporting him, either, recently telling the Politico that he would be doing things differently — that it wouldn’t have taken him as long to transfer some money to the House and Senate campaign committees. And Geraghty has heard conflicting accounts from GOP insiders — that Dawson either doesn’t seem inclined to challenge Steele, or that he’s likely to do it.

But again, it is absolutely true that saying you’d be doing a better job is not necessarily the same as actively plotting against somebody.

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