Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) on Monday praised embattled Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, saying he's done well in fundraising and has reached out to him. Several Republicans have called on Steele to resign since a high-profile donor scandal rocked the RNC several weeks ago. But the chairman has found several high-profile supporters within the party since he promised to impose greater accountability on the party's reimbursement practices.
"He's raised a lot of money. So, in any way, he's winning -- he's the first Republican chairman who has had, you know, at least reached out to me, at least would talk to me," he said in an interview on CNN. "You know, generally, the Republican leadership don't want to have anything to do with me and they don't want to have anything to do with the Ron Paul people."
Paul, a libertarian Republican who is often at odds with his party's leadership, is an unlikely supporter of a committee chairman.
His endorsement also comes after a majority of state Republican chairmen circulated a letter backing Steele, making it unlikely he will be replaced in the short-term.
Paul has found support among Tea Party activists who distrust the government and Steele has spent much time courting the group to ensure they vote with the GOP in the fall.
Steele has more work to do until the party secures the support of Tea Party activists. A recent survey showed that four in 10 Tea Party members are Democrats or independents.
Paul suggested outreach to his sect of the Republican Party will be important for winning in the fall midterm elections.
"They should be looking to us and saying, you know, why don't we help these young people who are so anxious and interested in what I'm talking about?" he asked. "Maybe they can be and sure should be in the Republican Party instead of being excluded."
The RNC raised $11.4 million in March, which they said was a record for a "mid-cycle March" but the Democratic National Committee raised $13 million in the same month.
The Texas Republican did not ignore the RNC scandal in which the party reimbursed a group of young donors for an event held at a bondage-themed nightclub in Los Angeles.
"I mean, there are some blunders, but once again, it might be a little lack of control of some of the people that work for him, and did something I don't think he was personally involved, but it's a big operation," Paul said.
