Conaway Chief of Staff Leads ‘Draft Steele’ Effort

Rep. Mike Conaway’s (R-Texas) chief of staff has spearheaded a new website seeking to draft former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele into the race for chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC).

A website, DraftMichaelSteele.com, was launched late last night seeking to draw support for Steele’s candidacy, and has received several hundred signatories already to a petition encouraging Steele to run said Jeff Burton, Conaway’s chief of staff.

“It’s been a great response, but we’re just at the very, very early stages of what we’re doing,” Burton said. “The purpose is just to let Mr. Steele know he has a lot of support out there, and encourage him to get in the race, and once that happens, we’ll help out whatever way we can.”

The Washington Times reported Tuesday that Steele and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) are among the most prominent candidates to have begun courting supporters in a race to head the RNC.

“Nothing against Mr. Gingrich, but I think we need someone new and fresh,” Burton said.

Burton added that while his boss knows about the site, he is leading the effort as a private citizen. Burton said he has not asked Conaway to join the effort.

The site is also managed by Austin, Texas-based web developer Ryan Gravatt and has received assistance from Anthony Welcher, the former Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the State Department’s Bureau of Public Affairs during the Bush administration.

–Michael O’Brien