Michael Steele

Oh, puppies: Steele's 2006 U.S. Senate ads won critical praise, but not the electionThe Republican National Committee is preparing a $3 million ad-blitz in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin through it's latest 527 independent expenditure group.

The ads, which will attack Barack Obama on energy issues, will be created by Brad Todd of On Message Inc. -- the man who brought you the 'Michael Steele loves puppies' series in 2006.

It's not every day that the state Democratic Party's communication director and one of Maryland's most prominent Republicans agree on a party's political fortunes. But after former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele told a crowd of Republicans that "the Republican brand quite frankly sucks," David Paulson emailed PolitickerMD.com to express his empathy for Steele's idea.

"I don't disagree with Michael Steele on his low opinion of the Republican brand - it's in the toilet for a lot of reasons," Paulson wrote in an email to PolitickerMD.com. "But Republicans who think they only have a branding problem are fooling themselves. This isn't a public relations problem. This is a public trust problem."

And that's where the temporary agreement between Paulson and Steele ends.

EASTON – Former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R) joined state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) for a fundraiser last night in Easton. The cost of admission to the Denny family’s house party was $250 for couples. VIP entrance was priced at $1,000, which included a photo with Steele.

The former lieutenant governor and chair of GOPAC opened the event for Harris. He began by praising key Republican operatives.

“It’s important work, its hard work. Particularly in this climate, in which the Republican brand quite frankly sucks,” Steele said. “I mean it stinks, it’s ugly, it’s painful, but in all that I see opportunity.”

Michael Steele on Fox NewsFormer Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R) will be the guest host of "Hannity and Colmes" on Wednesday, filling in for Sean Hannity on Fox News’s political commentary program.

The former lieutenant governor and chairman of GOPAC is a regulator contributor on the show. The program will air at 9 p.m. on Wednesday July 2.

Former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele will help 1996 presidential candidate Bob Dole rally North Carolina Republicans on their state house steps this Wednesday.

The rally, titled 'Take Back Our State' is sponsored by the local chapter of Americans For Prosperity, who recently hired away GOP state director John Flynn to serve as counsel in their Washington D.C. offices.

Fourth district Democrat Donna Edwards won a lopsided victory over her Republican opponent yesterday, with approximately 77% of the vote.  Turnout was around 4%, yet the smaller pool of votes did not affect the way it shook out.

In the 2006 general election when both U.S. Senate candidates Ben Cardin and Michael Steele made a strong push in the Fourth, Rep. Al Wynn beat the Republican 81% to 19%. In 2004 when 75% of voters turned out for the presidential, he won 75% to 20%. And in 2002, he took cruised at 79% to 21% with 54% of voters participated.

Barack Obama's folks are asking Majority Leader Steny Hoyer what he'd like to see in a vice presidential candidate, among other things, but will any other elected officials from Maryland have their say heard by Obama's vetting team? Or John McCain's?

Chris Van Hollen will likely get a word in. Gov. Bob Ehrlich could talk a bit about Rudy Giuliani's performance on the trail or, better yet, Michael Steele's. No doubt Obama's people will want to hear from Barbara Mikulski on winning with women and ethnic whites.

What other Marylanders will have their opinions heard at the highest echelon of vice presidential vetting?

State Republicans gathered for the 18th annual Red, White and Blue fundraiser last night in Linthicum, the party's major fundraiser for the year.

Justin Ready, the party's executive director, told PolitickerMD.com that roughly 400 people attended the event. He said the MDGOP expected to raise "close to $100,000" for the evening.

"This is a big improvement from last year," Ready said. "We're moving forward."

Former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R) told PolitickerMD.com Wednesday that he does want to be governor but will not seek the Republican nomination in 2010 if former Republican Gov. Bob Ehrlich enters the race.

"You don't have to worry about that," Steele said, referencing an Inside Edge post that speculated about the possible Steele/Ehrlich match-up. "I would definitely give him the nod."

"I'm not going to primary my friend," he added, saying Republicans "can't afford a bruising primary."

Ehrlich and Steele served together from 2003-2007.

Liberal media watchdog Media Matters for America is knocking former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele for misrepresenting presumptive Republican nominee John McCain's record on the 2001 Bush tax cuts.