Politics

New Challenger For GOP Chairman

November 25, 1998 / 1:24 PM EST / AP

A Michigan Republican said Wednesday he will challenge Jim Nicholson as national party chairman.

Charles Yob, chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, became the second opponent of Nicholson, whose job could be in jeopardy following the unexpected losses for Republicans in the Nov. 3 elections.

Yob, who sent a letter to fellow RNC members declaring his candidacy, joined Tom Slade, chairman of the Florida Republican Party. Slade declared his candidacy earlier this month.

"I'm off and running," Yob said in a telephone interview. "I don't think anybody's going to win on the first ballot. If there's a second ballot, Nicholson's dead."

Nicholson has pledged to seek a second term in January, and has been seeking out Republican National Committee members to build support.

"Chairman Nicholson considers Charles Yob to be a good friend and a loyal and valued Republican," said Nicholson spokesman Mike Collins. "In our party, we value the democratic process and every individual certainly has the right to run."

Yob and Slade used last week's RNC/Republican Governor's Association meeting in New Orleans as an opportunity to gather support for their candidacies.

Yob has received the support of RNC member Mike Francis of Louisiana, himself rumored to be a candidate at one point, as well as West Virginia party chairman David Tyson.

On Sunday, Georgia party chairman Rusty Paul sent a letter to Nicholson, advising him that he was resigning his position as chairman of the State Chairmen's Advisory Committee, because "you deserve a team that fully supports your effort for re-election. At this time, I cannot," Paul wrote.

He threw his support behind Slade.