Gentry Collins, a well-connected GOP insider and political director of the Republican National Committee, quit his job Tuesday with a blistering letter of resignation accusing RNC chairman Michael Steele of blowing the group’s millions and leaving the party broke during a critical period in the just-completed mid-term elections.
Collins said Steele’s extravagant spending habits leaves the RNC deeply in debt.
“In the previous two non-presidential cycles, the RNC carried over $4.8 million and $3.1 million respectively in cash reserve balances into the presidential cycles,” Collins wrote in his two-page letter. “In stark contrast, we enter the 2012 presidential cycle with 100% of the RNC’s $15 million in lines of credit tapped out, and unpaid bills likely to add millions to that debt.”
Because of Steele’s waste, Gollins said, Republicans:
- Could not run independent expenditure ad campaigns on behalf of GOP candidates;
- Adequately fund a planned voter turnout operation for Senate and House candidates;
- Could not fund a 72-hour turnout operation in the closing days of the election;
- Offered “only a fraction” of direct to candidate financial contributions planned for candidates;
- Was forced to scale back its support of state parties.
RNC insiders tell Capitol Hill Blue that a lack of funds hurt GOP Senate candidates in the final weeks of the campaign and may have cost Republicans a chance to take control of the Senate.
Related articles
- RNC Political Director Quits (politicalwire.com)
- Top RNC aide quits, blasts Steele (politico.com)
- Fight for Head of GOP Party Heats Up. Can Michael Steele Prevail? (abcnews.go.com)
- Ex-GOP chair eyes Steele challenge (politico.com)
