Is Martinez being forced out at RNC?
posted by powens on Oct 3, 2007 5:42:58 PM

Mel Martinez just took over as Republican National Chairman in January, and he's already planning his exit early next year. Was this his plan all along, or is he getting pushed out by GOP leaders?
Martinez says he never intended to stay on as chairman after the party chose its next presidential nominee, which could happen as soon as February. Funny how that detail didn't come out until recently.

Martinez has taken a beating from many Republicans for his leading role in pushing for an immigration plan that included a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants -- despite President Bush's backing for the idea. With the exception of John McCain, the Republican presidential candidates have no use for the plan. That could explain Martinez's decision to move on, sooner instead of later.

Political columnist Robert Novak, who broke the story of Martinez planning to give up the chairman's position, wrote, "Many Republicans now grumble that Martinez has been ineffective in that role, partly because he has been drowned out by the many presidential hopefuls."

So which story do you believe?

www.blogs.orlandosentinel.coml