Campaign committees

Former Vice President Dick Cheney has picked GOP operative Maria Cino as his favorite in the race for chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC).

Cheney will co-host a fundraiser for Cino -- a former Bush administration official -- next week, CNN reported. The event is intended to fill the coffers of her 527 group created to raise funds for a run at the party's chairmanship.

Cino has not yet officially entered the race for chairman, but the event is another sign that high-profile Republicans are lining up against current chairman Michael Steele, should he decide to run for a second term as party chief.

According to CNN, the fundraiser will be held at the Virginia home of well-known GOP strategist Mary Matalin. Other Bush allies are expected to co-host the event, such as former RNC chairman Ed Gillespie, former New York Rep. Bill Paxon and two former Bush administration aides.

Cino served in the Commerce Department and as Deputy Transportation Secretary under President George W. Bush.

Only Michigan RNC committeeman Saul Anuzis and ex-Missouri GOP chief Anna Wagner have officially announced their bids. At least six others are seriously considering bids, including Cino and Steele.

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is set to become the new head of the Democratic Governors Association, a source with knowledge of the appointment confirmed to The Ballot Box.

O'Malley and the rest of the DGA's incoming leadership team will be unveiled Wednesday at an event in Washington. 

O’Malley’s appointment to the committee's top job was first reported by Politico. 

The governor won his rematch with former Gov. Bob Ehrlich (R) last cycle. During a tough year for Democrats nationally, O’Malley won by almost 15 points, raising about $8 million for his effort. 

This won't be O’Malley's first stint at the DGA. He spent two years as vice chairman of the committee. He also served as the group's finance chairman, where he helped it beef up its fundraising apparatus.

O’Malley has his work cut out for him. Three states hold governors races in 2011, while 11 governorships are up in 2012.  

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell led the committee through the 2010 cycle.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry will head the Republican Governors Association, according to reports out of San Diego, where the organization is holding its annual meeting.

Perry's election was expected. He replaces Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour.

Perry's selection also puts Texans in charge of the three Republican campaign committees. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) was chosen this week to head a second term at the National Republican Senatorial Campaign committee and Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) was picked to lead the National Republican Congressional Campaign committee for a second cycle.

Meanwhile, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell was elected vice chairman of the RGA.

Other positions are:

Gov. Bobby Jindal (La.) will be gala chairman.
Gov. Nikki Haley (S.C.) will be recruitment chairwoman.

Govs. Susana Martinez (N.M.) and Chris Christie (N.J.) will also sit on the organization's executive committee as at-large members.

Sen. John Cornyn pledged to build on Republican victories after being reelected to lead the National Republican Senatorial Committee. 

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) said Steele should be ousted because Republicans could have done a better job reaching voters.

Speculation is mounting that Republican governors will tap the Texas leader to lead the RGA at their meeting next week in San Diego.

Democrats spent more than $65 million on advertising in 77 congressional districts and then lost two-thirds of those races.

The NRSC chairman pushed back on reports that Republicans were pulling their support for Senate candidate Joe Miller.

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) penned a fundraising letter for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) on Friday asking voters to consider the morning after the election.

In one scenario, Franken wrote, it's "8 a.m. You stumble out of bed. Make some oatmeal. Turn on the TV to find out what happened in that Senate race, the one that was too close to call all night. But you gave $5 to the DSCC … And, lo and behold, your favorite Democrat ... pulled it out by a few votes. Oatmeal never tasted so sweet."

"But there’s another way it could go," he went on. "8 a.m. Oatmeal. TV. But in this example, you DIDN’T give to the DSCC. And, by a few hundred votes, some Tea Party extremist is now a U.S. Senator-elect — and Republicans have captured the majority. How’s that oatmeal taste now?"

"On November 3, I don’t want my oatmeal to taste like regret. I want my oatmeal to taste like victory." 

The DSCC outraised the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) by nearly double in September, but lost that edge in the first two weeks of October.

It now reports $14.4 million cash-on-hand to the NRSC's $11.8 million.

The RNC chairman said Democrats should share evidence of alleged political wrongdoing by outside groups to support their charges.