AP – In this Jan. 30, 2009 file photo, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele speaks in Washington. … 
Michael Steele, the embattled chairman of the Republican National Committee, has chosen as chief of staff Ken McKay, a New Englander he describes as being “not afraid of a challenge,” party sources tell POLITICO.
That’s a good qualification for the new top executive of a party that has been repeatedly embarrassed by Steele’s public statements. Last weekend, “Saturday Night Live” satirized him.
Steele went off the airwaves this week to focus on naming his team, but then GQ magazine released an interview Wednesday night in which Steele referred to abortion as an “individual choice.”
On Thursday morning, Steele released a statement saying: “I am pro-life, always have been, always will be.”
An announcement on McKay is planned for later Thursday.
Steele’s election at the end of January was heralded as a diversity breakthrough for the party, since he is the first African-American chairman. He has been conducting an audit of the party structure and has said he plans to have his team in place by the end of this month. But the party has been left without top officials – including a political, communications or finance director — during the first 100 days of Barack Obama’s presidency.
An e-mail to top supporters touts McKay’s experience managing two statewide campaigns for a pro life and pro gun candidate in a very blue state,” Rhode Islander.
The e-mail says: “Ken has proven that voters in both parties gravitate to reform minded conservative governance, proving you can govern with conservative philosophy, and those principles work everywhere. Ken is not a theorist; he’s a real life practitioner of both campaigning and governing. He has experience in managing very complex operations and making things work.
“Ken brings a ton of experience both in the campaign world and in government, and he brings a fresh approach from out in the states. Time and again our national party has found success by adopting innovations and strategies that come from out in the states, particularly from Governors. This was one of the most appealing traits for Chairman Steele."
Here is Ken McKay’s RNC bio:
Personal
— From Rhode Island. 42 years old. Wife and three boys.
Professional
— US Army, Infantry, for three years right after high school.
— Attorney at Law, currently has his own firm, formerly with Brown Rudnick — big firm headquartered in Boston, with offices in NY, Providence, London, Hartford, and Washington, DC.
Education
— High Point, NC, BS. Major in Biology
— Roger Williams University School of Law, JD
COS for a Republican Governor
— Gov. Don Carcieri’s COS for his first three and ½ years in office, following his election in 2002. COS, Transition Team for Governor elect Carcieri.
—Managed two successful Governor’s races in arguably the most Democrat state in America. Ken is not afraid of a challenge. Carcieri won reelection in the very difficult year of 2006.
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