Campaign committees

Longtime Democratic operative Guy Cecil will serve as executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for the 2012 cycle, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) announced Wednesday. 

Cecil succeeds J.B. Poersch and is tasked with helping Democrats keep their tenuous majority in the Senate given a tough 2012 map for the party.

“Guy is uniquely qualified to lead our efforts to keep Democrats in control of the US Senate,” DSCC Chair Patty Murray said in a statement. “He's a singular talent with the experience necessary to tackle the challenges and maximize the opportunities presented over the next two years. I'm thrilled he's agreed to join me as we work to deliver for the American people and strengthen our majority.”

Cecil served as national political director for then-Sen. Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. 

He most recently served as chief of staff to Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), helping steer him through a tough 2010 campaign against Republican Ken Buck.

The National Republican Congressional Committee has promoted several staffers to top positions.

NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (Texas) announced Tuesday that Mike Shields, who directed the committee's Independent Expenditure arm in 2010, will become the new political director. He also worked as research director for the committee in the 2004 cycle.

Paul Lindsay will take over Ken Spain's role as communications director. Spain recently went into private practice.

Meanwhile, Jenny Sheffield Drucker was promoted to finance director.

Sessions said his staff's "institutional knowledge" will be helpful next cycle. "Mike, Jenny and Paul worked tremendously hard to build a Republican majority, and their expertise will help to ensure that we earn continued success in 2012," Sessions said in a statement. 

The NRCC helped the GOP win 63 seats and control of the House last cycle.

Michael Steele appointed a key ally to the position of Republican National Committee general counsel.

Steele announced Friday he's asked Idaho Republican Party Chairman Norman Semanko to serve in the prestigious job.

"His exceptional qualifications will ensure the committee's sound legal footing and make sure that the resources are in place to continue to build on this year's historic elections," Steele, the RNC chairman, said in a statement.

Semanko, whose appointment to the volunteer position is subject to confirmation by the RNC, was one of 31 state GOP chairmen who backed Steele in the wake of a spending scandal last spring.

Steele has not yet announced whether he will seek a second term as RNC chairman.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee continues to promote from within.

The committee on Friday revealed to staffers it has elevated Kelly Ward to the position of political director. She previously served as regional director of incumbent retention during the 2010 cycle, a source told The Ballot Box. The DCCC also promoted Travis Lowe, who had served as Midwest regional political desk. Lowe will now direct campaign operations for the committee.

The promotions come in the aftermath of a disastrous campaign cycle for the DCCC, in which it lost more than 60 seats and the Democratic majority in the House.

Still, Rep. Steve Israel (N.Y.), the new DCCC chairman, has already moved to fill vacant positions with internal candidates. Israel announced on Monday that that Robby Mook would be the committee's next top staffer.

Mook led the DCCC's Independent Expenditure effort in the 2010 cycle. He replaces outgoing executive director Jon Vogel.

Tea Party Nation, a national Tea Party group, is asking Sarah Palin to run for Republican National Committee chairwoman.

Judson Phillips, founder of the group, posted a letter on TPN's website that he said he plans to send to the former Alaska governor. In it, he asks her to take on "the establishment" and run for the chairmanship of the Republican Party.

"We need you as Chairman of the RNC. You have shown in the past no hesitation to take on the establishment. You did it in Alaska. If we end up with establishment control of the GOP and their support for an establishment candidate in 2012, Obama and the socialists will have won," he writes.

He also criticized RNC Chairman Michael Steele's spending habits — spending is a major issue for the Tea Party movement.

Steele "has spent Republican money with the gusto of a liberal. You showed in Alaska, you know how to put the brakes on unnecessary spending," Phillips writes.

He adds: "Finally, you are a superstar. You have an unbelievable ability to light up a crowd and to raise money. Both of which the Republican Party needs."

Palin defended Steele's tenure earlier this year, when he was being attacked for the way he ran the committee.

"I support Michael Steele," she said on Fox News in April. "I think he's doing a great job. Michael Steele is an outsider. The machine, I think, is tough to penetrate. ... I think it's been good to have an independent outsider trying to create some change in the Republican Party."

(h/t Talking Points Memo)

UPDATED: Palin told ABC News she's not running for the job.

"I respect the desire to have someone in charge of the RNC who understands the wishes of the conservative grassroots and understands that power resides with the people and not the vested interests in DC. However, the primary role of the RNC chair seems be that of fundraiser-in-chief, and there are others who would probably be much more comfortable asking people for money than I would be, and they would definitely enjoy it more," she said in a statement.

-- This post was updated at 2:47 p.m.

Rep. Steve Israel (N.Y.) promoted an internal candidate to be the new executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Israel, the new DCCC chairman, announced Monday that Robby Mook would be the committee's next top staffer.

Mook led the DCCC's Independent Expenditure effort in the 2010 cycle, during which the party lost more than 60 seats and its majority. He replaces outgoing Executive Director Jon Vogel.

"Robby has the right combination of experience, political know-how and leadership savvy to help make this the shortest Republican majority in history," Israel said in a statement.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's American Solutions PAC raised $314,106 over the past month and a half, while directing more than $200K to other Republican candidates across the country. 

Gingrich also donated a total of $20K to Iowa's House Majority Fund, according to the committee's filing with the Federal Election Commission.

The number makes Gingrich's federal PAC haul second only to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, whose committee took in more than $460K over the same period and reported $1.2 million cash on hand. 

The former House Speaker also has a 527 group through which he has done the bulk of his fundraising during the past year.  

Palin's PAC gave money to close to 50 Republican congressional candidates in the month leading up to the midterm elections. She also donated to state Republican Parties in South Carolina, New Hampshire and Alaska. 

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's Free and Strong America PAC raised $285,295 between Oct. 14 and Nov. 22, but raised an additional $273K through his network of state PACs. That pushes Romney's total haul to more than half a million dollars. His federal PAC reported more than $1 million cash on hand. 

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's PAC raised less than $140,000 over the same period, while Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour's committee raised $108,152. 

Barbour doled out more than $62,000 to other GOP campaigns and state parties across the country. He gave $5,000 to the state Republican Party in both Iowa and New Hampshire. He also donated to more state parties than any other contenders, including the state Republican Parties in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Minnesota. 

Meanwhile Republicans ended the cycle $12 million in debt but picked up 63 House seats.

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.