Steele ‘in a bunker these days’

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele was noticeably absent from CBS’s “Face The Nation” on Sunday. 

Steele’s predecessor, former RNC chair Ed Gillespie, did appear. But host Bob Schieffer remarked that Gillespie wouldn’t be there if Steele “was willing to go on television.”

“But he’s so immersed in controversy that he’s — he’s kind of in a bunker these days,” Schieffer said, during a roundtable that included Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) and Republican strategist Ed Rollins. 

Rollins called Steele’s tenure as chairman a “disaster” and said he was likely to be replaced after the midterm elections in November.

“Michael Steele has failed miserably to do the things you’re supposed to do: raise money, basically go out and articulate a message,” Rollins said.

Steele’s shortcomings won’t hurt the party, he added.

“In 11 weeks from now, what he says or does in the next 11 weeks is not going to matter. What’s going to matter is Ed Gillespie, Haley Barbour, others who’ve picked up the mantle and are raising the resources that we need,” Rollins said, referring to the fundraising efforts launched in the wake of reports of mismanagement at the RNC.

Steele recently appeared at the RNC members meeting in Kansas City where he touted his record.

“In less than two years, we have gone from a demoralized super-minority party to a legion of effective citizens who are on the offense and making Democrats sweat,” Steele told activists.