RNC Comms Director Quits
RNC communications director Trevor Francis has left the committee just eight months after taking over a struggling shop.
Francis, a former Bush admin official who worked at Burson-Marsteller before returning to political work, won quick praise for reforming RNC chair Michael Steele's public relations outreach. Before Francis joined the team, Steele made several controversial comments that led some RNC members to explore options as drastic as removing him from office.
But Francis built a strong shop, led an effort to refute the Obama admin by holding frequent conference calls with newsmakers, and largely helped Steele avoid putting his foot in his mouth.
Other GOP communications experts gave Francis credit for organizing the party's message in advance of GOV wins in VA and NJ, and helping the party shape the narrative despite deep minorities in both chambers of Congress.
"Trevor took a hiatus from a very successful private sector career to give service to the Republican Party this year," Steele said in a statement. "Trevor's talents will be missed at the RNC. We have accomplished a great deal in the year he was here. He worked tirelessly, as did the whole team, on the victories in Virginia and his home state of New Jersey."
GOP sources said Francis clashed with close Steele advisors, and at times with the chairman himself. Many professional GOPers have been quietly critical of the RNC chairman for taking so much credit for this year's wins, though they say Francis was gracious in sharing credit.
"The RNC is losing an experienced and steady hand in Trevor Francis," one senior GOP official told Hotline OnCall. "When the chairman of the party is incapable of adhering to even basic message discipline and committing repeated gaffes in front of the national media, it is understandable why a communications professional would decide its time to sever ties. It's a shame."
Steele is said to have a list of potential replacements, though a disagreement among his advisors over one name could hold up the process, at least temporarily.
(REID WILSON)