RNC Chair Visits Iowa, Republicans Remain Silent

DES MOINES - This afternoon Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steel will headline an event in Urbandale with Terry Branstad and Brad Zaun. Although as of Tuesday morning the Republican Party of Iowa, the Branstad/Reynolds campaign, and the Zaun campaign have conspicuously failed to mention Steele’s visit on their websites, social networks or through a press release.

“Michael Steele has become the pariah of the Republican Party, so much so that it appears they are trying to hide him from supporters and the press,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky. “This only highlights the lack of organization and unity within a Republican Party going into the critical weeks ahead.”

Steele’s tour across the country has recently come under fire from many within the Republican Party, with one Republican state party chair calling it a “colossal waste of time” and another saying the trip is nothing more than “the Michael Steele re-election tour.” Steele responded to critics this week by saying the tour is designed to “energize as many potential Republican voters as possible.”

“If this visit is supposed to energize voters, I don’t see why it’s being kept a secret,” added Dvorsky. “Last month we were honored to bring Democratic National Chairman Tim Kaine to Iowa where we held well publicized events for our volunteers and made him available at a press conference along with Governor Culver at the Iowa State Fair.”

UPDATE: After this release was posted and sent to members of the media Iowa GOP Chairman Matt Strawn tweeted, “Changing America starts with changing Congress. Come visit the @RNC’s #FirePelosi tourbus, 4pm at @IowaGOP Urbandale Victory office.” While he acknowledges the event, he fails to promote that Chairman Steele will be a part of it.

Sources:

• CNN, “Steele defends bus travel to ‘marginal districts’” 9/28/10