Critic of Steele Drops Bid to Replace Him

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By JEFF ZELENY
Gentry Collins, a former political director of the Republican National Committee who resigned in November after delivering a scathing condemnation of the party’s fund-raising practices, said Sunday that he was withdrawing his candidacy to succeed Michael Steele as chairman of the Republican Party.

“It is after much consideration and thought that I announce my withdrawal from the race for chairman of the R.N.C.,” Mr. Collins said in a statement. “I believe that there are several qualified candidates in the race for chairman, each of whom would do a fine job leading the committee through the 2012 election cycle.”

Mr. Collins, a respected Republican strategist who had worked alongside Mr. Steele for two years and often defended his stewardship of the committee, decided to run for the top Republican post himself after abruptly resigning in November. Mr. Collins positioned himself as an alternative to Mr. Steele, but several other candidates also emerged and drew more support from members of the Republican National Committee, who will elect a new leader at their winter meeting on Jan. 14.

The withdrawal of Mr. Collins, which was first reported Sunday evening by Politico, leaves five candidates in the race, including: Mr. Steele, who is seeking re-election; Reince Priebus, chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party; Ann Wagner, a longtime Missouri Republican official; Maria Cino, a veteran Republican operative who worked in the administration of George W. Bush; and Saul Anuzis, a Michigan Republican official.

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http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/02/critic-of-steele-drops-bid-to-replace-him/