RNC Hopefuls Target Social Conservatives

Support from social conservatives will be important for the challengers to Michael Steele as chairman of the Republican National Committee. So several candidates have marketed themselves to influential social conservative groups, Politico reports.

Wisconsin Republican Chairman Reince Priebus, Michigan National Committeeman Saul Anuzis and former RNC political director Gentry Collins each have conducted phone interviews with Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser and National Organization for Marriage Chairwoman Maggie Gallagher.

Former Missouri GOP Chairwoman Ann Wagner, another candidate, is scheduled for an SBA List interview Thursday, a spokesman said.

“In the mid-term election results, the strength of the pro-life grass-roots movement was clear with 80 out of the 87 new Republican House members being pro-life,” Dannenfelser says. “There is a growing sense among Americans, both in public opinion and at the ballot box, that they want leaders who will defend unborn children and end taxpayer funding of abortion, especially when the president is moving in the opposite direction.”