Phone sex scandal adds to Republican committee's fundraising woes

Washington, Apr 2(ANI): In the midst of the financial problems plaguing the Republican National Committee (RNC) under Michael Steele's leadership, a fundraising letter mistakenly directing potential contributors to a phone sex line has added to the party's woes.

The reports of the RNC authorizing almost 2000 dollars in expenses for one of its fundraising contractors at Voyeur, a Hollywood topless club with a lesbian bondage theme, may have stirred up a controversy.

However, to top things off, the RNC's fundraising efforts have been called into question after the organization sent out a fundraising mail piece earlier in March with a phone response phone number that connected donors of the RNC phone bank to a 2.99 dollar-a-minute sex line.

The stream of bad news is likely to make it harder for key party organizations to raise money for the 2010 elections.

"The greatest damage to Republicans from the controversies surrounding the RNC is the collateral damage to their House and Senate committees and Republican Governors Association," The Christian Science Monitor quoted Charlie Cook, editor of the Cook Political Report, as saying.

The drumbeat of unfavourable news has cast Michael Steele's managerial skills in a negative light, but at the moment he seems likely to keep his position.

"Some are calling for Chairman Steele's resignation, but it's doubtful that can succeed. It is hard to remove a party chairman in mid-term," said Larry Sabato, Director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics.

Removing Steele would require the 168 members of the RNC to hold a special meeting, vote by a two-thirds majority to remove him, and then agree on a replacement. (ANI)