Republicans turn to Web for help in rebuilding party

'We are a party of principles and must regain our voice'

Nov 11 02:56 PM US/Eastern
AFP

Fresh off a US presidential election defeat and further losses in Congress, the Republican Party launched a new website on Tuesday asking members for their ideas on its future.

"We are a party of principles and must regain our voice," Republican National Committee chairman Robert Duncan said in a statement announcing the creation of the website, RepublicanForAReason.com.

"We need to hear what our volunteers, activists, elected leaders, and party members think about the Republican Party as we rebuild, re-focus, and renew our bond with the American people," Duncan added.

The statement said the new website provides a venue for party members to "offer their opinion of where the party is headed and how we can be better prepared for the future."

Besides watching party flag-bearer John McCain lose the race for the White House to Democrat Barack Obama, Republicans also lost at least six seats in the Senate and 20 in the House of Representatives.

Several other congressional races have not yet been decided.

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Steele Likely to Seek RNC Leadership Post
The former Maryland lieutenant governor is considering a run for the chairmanship of the Republican Party, a source close to the situation told FOX News.

By Bill Sammon

FOXNews.com

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Michael Steele, former lieutenant governor of Maryland, has decided to run for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee and is in talks with Newt Gingrich to win the former House speaker's endorsement, FOX News learned Tuesday.

Steele declined to comment, but a source close to the situation said Steele would announce his candidacy as early as Thursday.

The source also contradicted a report in Tuesday's Washington Times that Steele and Gingrich were competing for the RNC post.

"There is no fight," the source said. "This tension between Michael Steele and Newt Gingrich is totally fabricated and, in fact, Gingrich and Steele are working together to create a new strategy for the direction of the GOP."

In a statement issued by the former House speaker, Gingrich said he was not interested in seeking the post of Republican Party chairman.

"A number of people have asked me to consider running for Republican National Committee chair. They have been very flattering, and I am very honored by their support," he said.

"However, my job as an American first is to develop a tri-partisan approach to developing solutions for the challenges we face. I use the word tri-partisan to designate the concept of attracting Democrats, Republicans, and independents to solutions that unify most Americans."

Meanwhile, Steele is said to be hoping that his entry into the race will scare off other hopefuls, including current RNC chairman Mike Duncan.

Others vying for the post include Chip Saltsman, who chaired Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign.