Dawson Rolls Out Two RNC Backers, Field Still Open

South Carolina Republican Party chairman Katon Dawson has rolled out two more endorsers in his bid to chair the Republican National Committee, bringing to 48 the number of national committee members who have lined up behind one of the six candidates.

Indiana national committee member Dee Dee Benkie and Illinois committeewoman Demetra DeMonte will back Dawson, the campaign confirmed to The Hill. That gives Dawson a total of ten public endorsers, including his own vote.

Three other candidates clock in with twelve public endorsements from among the 168 voting members.

Former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell has attracted backing from a dozen of the committee’s more conservative members, as well as one of the best-known, in Virginia national committeeman Morton Blackwell. The Ohioan also has support from state party chairmen in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

Michigan Republican Party chairman Saul Anuzis also has twelve public commitments under his belt, largely from committee members north of the Mason-Dixon line. The heads of the Connecticut, Nevada and New Jersey parties support Anuzis.

Incumbent chairman Robert “Mike” Duncan rolled out several endorsements earlier this week, bringing him even with Anuzis and Blackwell at the head of the pack. Duncan has support from state party chairs in Minnesota and his native Kentucky, as well as from Gov. Luis Fortuno, newly installed in Puerto Rico.

Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele has refused to publicly disclose the names of any backers, though on Wednesday he accepted an endorsement from Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer. California national committeeman Shawn Steel has been vocal about his backing of the GOPAC chairman, and several members have told The Hill privately they will back him.

Former Tennessee GOP chairman Chip Saltsman also has yet to release public endorsements, though his top aide has told The Hill that Saltsman is confident of his support.

Still, with just four dozen members publicly supporting a candidate, 120 voters remain uncommitted just over three weeks before they have to cast ballots. Several RNC candidates are acting like they are ahead, and several candidates are being attacked as if they were ahead.

In reality, with so many members undecided, the race to head the RNC remains anybody’s ballgame.

–Reid Wilson