RNC launches outreach effort to find a 'path forward' for the GOP

The Republican National Committee (RNC) on Wednesday announced a new website to solicit grassroots ideas on how to repair the party's image, encouraging supporters to complete a survey on how the GOP should move forward.

The outreach effort comes amid an effort to reboot the party following a 2012 election cycle that saw Democrats retain the White House, gain seats in the Senate and win a majority of ballots cast in House races. The website announcement comes as members of the RNC are gathering in Charlotte, N.C., for the party's Winter Meeting.

“I am very pleased to unveil the Growth and Opportunities website to our RNC members here in Charlotte. The work of our grassroots activists has always been an important aspect of the party, and listening to their ideas will continue be an asset in developing a solid path forward,” RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement. “The website will help facilitate a dialogue between our Republican activists, RNC members and other party leaders."

According to Priebus, the effort will be led by five co-chairmen: Mississippi RNC committeeman Henry Barbour, Puerto Rico RNC committeewoman Zori Fonalledas, South Carolina RNC committeeman Glenn McCall, Florida political operative Sally Bradshaw and former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer.

The website is the extension of a committee announced last month by the RNC. In addition to soliciting feedback, the RNC has indicated plans to re-evaluate the party's campaign infrastructure and data mining operations, in hope of better competing with the systems developed by President Obama's team during his two runs for the White House.

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