African-American leaders in US have "slimmer margin" for error: Steele

Washington, Apr 6(ANI): U.S. Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman, Michael Steele, has said the African-American leaders in the country, including President Barack Obama, have a "slimmer margin" for error.

Former Maryland Lieutenant Governor, Steele, is the first African American to head the RNC.

"The honest answer is, yes. Barack Obama has a slimmer margin. A lot of folks do, that is just the reality of it," The New York Daily News quoted Steele, as saying.

Meanwhile, responding to the comment, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, said: "That is a fairly silly comment to make. I think Michael Steele's problem isn't the race card, it's the credit card."

Steele also defended himself against criticism that the RNC is spending more money than it is taking in.

"The bottom line is, I hear my donors, I hear our base out there, I hear the leadership. We are taking steps to make sure we're even more ... fiscally conservative and to make sure the dollars are there," he added.

He further said the outcry over his party spending on a donors' outing to a bondage club is being blown up "larger than it needs to be."

"The reality of it is, when I first heard about this behavior going on, I was very angry, and we dealt with it and got to the bottom of it," he added.

The drumbeat of several unfavourable news have cast 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)