The more I think about it, the more I think Steele's speech was more memorable. It is a very interesting question to pose since I happen to like Obama.

I would think the Republicans stupid to select anyone but Steele. He is a conservative republican, no doubts. But, he communicated exceedingly well and lost by 9 points in a blue state in a blue election. I will never forget the infamous puppy ad. For the sake of keeping some semblance of balance, the republicans should pick him.

The statement "Obama gave the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention, and Steele fulfilled the same role for the Republicans" is wrong. Michael Steele did not deliver the keynote address. (Senator Zell Miller (D-GA) did.)

Also, asking which speech was more memorable misses the point. Senator Obama's speech drew voluminous, and reverential, coverage, even before it was delivered. Of course it is more widely remembered because it was much more widely publicized.

Michael Steele is the best choice for RNC chairman. He is a principled leader and, as you note, an eloquent spokesman. Also, he has shown that he can build the party in very difficult circumstances.

As party chairman for the State of Maryland, Steele laid the groundwork for the election of the first Republican governor in 36 years. Steele also fought, and won,a bitter redistricting battle over a Democratic gerrymander. Steele convinced Maryland’s highest court, all of whom had been appointed by Democratic governors, to throw out the Democratic plan and create a map more favorable for Republicans.

Steele culminated his term as Maryland Republican Party chairman by running for, and winning, election as the first Republican lieutenant governor in state history, and the first African American ever elected statewide in Maryland.

Running against the favored candidate of the Democratic machine, a ten term Congressman and former state House speaker strongly backed by the state’s two dominant newspapers, in a toxic year for GOP candidates, Michael Steele won the highest percentage of the vote of any Republican Senate candidate in Maryland in 26 years. Also, his margin was 13 percentage points better than the Republican nominee for President won in the state just two years later.

Michael Steele is certainly the best Good Ole Boy for the GOP Chair. He has done wonders for the State(MD) Party, been solid at GOPAC and wouold certainly shake things up in the RNC. He however never won elected statewide office as Matt previously stated for he was on a ticket that people voted for Governor R. Ehrlich, not Michael Steele solely, therefore we (MD) still has never had an African American elected Statewide, though LONG overdue!