Steele Elected RNC Chair  —  The Republican National Committee elected Michael Steele as its first African American chairman today in Washington, a decision that came after an excruciating series of ballots that displayed a level of drama rarely seen in national politics.

Steele's victory  —  Michael Steele makes history as the first black chairman of the Republican National Committee, and as a rare winner — at least in part — of an outside game in what is usually an insider's contest.  He won with 91 votes, 6 more than he needed, over South Carolina GOP Chairman Katon Dawson.

BREAKING: Steele picked to lead RNC  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — Members of the Republican National Committee elected their first-ever African-American party chief on Friday, choosing former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele to chair the organization after six rounds of tumultuous balloting.

Clintonista Already Dishing Out Oppo Hit Pieces on Steele  —  Well, that didn't take long.  —  Hillary Clinton's former research director dished up a nasty hit-piece memo on Michael Steele hours after he was elected the GOP's first black RNC Chairman.  —  He cites shaky resources like Think Progress …

Giuliani: Corporate plums help keep NYC afloat  —  NEW YORK (CNN) — Bonuses for Wall Street fat cats are easy political fodder in uncertain economic times, but former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Friday cutting corporate bonuses means slashing jobs in the Big Apple.