Steele Defends His Performance

Most Republicans seem to feel it is time for Michael Steele to step down from his post as chairman of the Republican National Committee. But he’s apparently not going without a fight. He defended his record in a memo sent to RNC members, Politico reports.

RNC fundraising has been a "clear, and readily quantifiable, success," he says. "The RNC's expanded donor base reflects the RNC's success in building an energized grass roots base and energizing small donors and new voters to an unprecedented extent," Steele wrote.

But many others disagree, including Gentry Collins, who dismissed the committee's fundraising and voter turnout efforts in a memo this week announcing his resignation as RNC political director.

Indiana RNC member Jim Bopp says his state “was promised get out the vote money and then found out a week before they wouldn't get it. And this doesn't address that at all. Expanding the donor base is a verification that we are relying heavily on telemarketing and direct mail."