Racicot announced on Monday that he is leaving his position as chairman of the Republican National Committee to assume the reins of the president's re-election campaign.
"It has been my great honor to serve my party and my president as chairman of the Republican National Committee," Racicot told the committee's members in a Monday conference call. "Due to the inclusive message of President Bush, the hard work of the RNC and the dedication of millions of Republicans nationwide, I am confident our party looks forward to another period of growth and electoral success."
"I'm grateful that Marc has agreed to serve as chairman of my campaign," Bush said in a Monday statement. "A close friend, Marc will help communicate our optimistic agenda and record of accomplishments."
Rumors that the Racicot would lead the re-election campaign have already provoked much gnashing of teeth among Christian conservatives who oppose Racicot's efforts to bring homosexuals into the Republican family.
Racicot angered Christian conservatives in April when he met with 300 members of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay and lesbian organization.
"Marc Racicot is so out-of-touch with George W. Bush's most loyal and committed voters that his qualifications to serve as chairman of the president's re-election campaign must be seriously questioned," Family Research Council president Ken Connor wrote in a May 15 e-mail. "Mr. Racicot appears to be utterly tone deaf -- or openly hostile -- to the concerns of the GOP's pro-family voters."
Racicot, who served as governor from 1993 to 2001, also angered Christian conservatives in 2000 when he signed an executive order establishing "sexual orientation" as a protected civil right in Montana.
The decision to put Racicot in charge of the re-election campaign received a warm reception from the Log Cabin Republicans, the nation's largest gay and lesbian Republican organization.
"We think Marc Racicot has been one of the best chairmen the Republican
National Committee has had," Log Cabin Republican spokesman Mark Mead said. "Marc Racicot gets it. He understands that you build a party by addition, not subtraction."
University of Montana professor of political science James Lopach said the decision to put Racicot in charge of the re-election campaign bodes well for the former governor's future.
"Marc Racicot is a valuable utility fielder and he could be used in a lot of places," Lopach said. "My guess is that he will play a more prominent role in the next Bush administration."
Racicot and Bush developed a close relationship in the late 1990s when the president was the Republican governor of Texas. Racicot solidified the relationship in 2000 when he defended Bush in the battle over the counting of votes for president in Florida. Bush won the battle and thus the presidency.
"He proved himself under fire in the aftermath of the 2000 election," Lopach said. "He proved that he was loyal and politically savvy. As RNC chairman these talents aren't fully in play."
Objections from Christian conservative groups prevented President Bush from appointing Racicot to a more prominent position, such as attorney general.
"My understanding is that after the election Bush did not have a lot of cards to play," Lopach said. "He could not go against his base. A lot of groups opposed Marc Racicot for attorney general."
Will Brooke, the chief of staff for Montana Republican Sen. Conrad Burns, joined Lopach in praising the selection of Racicot. "Racicot has such a high level of integrity and he will bring that to the campaign," Brooke said. "If you can't do it ethically, he won't do it. There won't be any Watergates here."
The 54-year-old Racicot was born in Thompson Falls and grew up in Miles City and Libby. He was a star basketball player at Libby High School and Carroll College in Helena. He met his wife Theresa, a Big Timber-native,
at Carroll. He was an Army judge advocate general and was elected Montana attorney general in 1988. He served one term as attorney general before being elected governor
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