Newt’s Prospects Fading in Quest for RNC Chair?

The Washington Times is reporting that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s bid to be the next RNC chairman may be losing steam.

From the Washington Times:

GOP governors and state party chairmen say former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will be a leading Republican spokesman but not as its national chairman, a post likely to be filled by someone from within the ranks of the 168-member Republican National Committee.

Mr. Gingrich, considered a one-man idea factory who had wanted to be drafted for the top party post, would not give up his leadership of two other organizations he already heads, and that pretty much took him out of the running, interviews with Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, his fellow GOP governors and several influential state GOP chairmen indicated.

The Times story goes on to mention several other potential candidates including current RNC chairman Mike Duncan and Texas GOP Chairwoman Tina Benkiser.

I confess I don’t know much about Benkiser but at first glance she seems to have solid conservative credentials.