The most powerful Republican in politics

[Geee]

Politico:

The most powerful Republic

By JIM VANDEHEI & ANDY BARR & KENNETH P. VOGEL
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is the most powerful Republican in American politics — at least for the next three months.

Barbour, who runs the Republican Governors Association, has more money to spend on the 2010 elections - $40 million – than any other GOP leader around. And in private, numerous Republicans describe Barbour as the de facto chairman of the party.

It’s not just because he controls the RGA kitty but rather it’s due to close relationships with everyone who matters in national GOP politics—operatives like Karl Rove, Ed Gillespie and other top Republicans running or raising cash for a network of outside political groups. Together, these groups are essential to Republican hopes of regaining power because Democrats are cleaning their clocks through more traditional fundraising efforts.

The political class, in particular, is consumed with Barbour’s behind-the-scenes endeavors—this week with the $1 million he got from Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.

Yet the reality is that Barbour has been uniquely adept at leveraging concerns about President Obama into huge contributions from many others. Bob Perry, the Texas businessman who funded the Swift Boat attacks in the 2004 campaigns, has given more than twice as much as News Corp.

Barbour’s stature has grown at the expense of cash-strapped, gaffe-prone Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele and he has funded his various efforts by tapping into broad dissatisfaction with Steele—at one point, Barbour complained to donors that he needs to raise even more money because Steele is stumbling. This past quarter, Barbour’s RGA actually matched the RNC in fundraising, something that hasn’t been done in at least five years and probably much longer, according to a POLITICO analysis.

“He’s clearly the top political strategist and political operative of his generation,” said Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), a former RNC chief of staff. “He is without peer when he is raising money.”

At the moment, Barbour’s power is derived from his ability to tilt gubernatorial and statehouse races with his RGA funds. These races might not be as sexy as some of the star-studded races for Senate or as dramatic as the battle for control of the House. Yet they could prove even more important over the long haul because they will create the next generation of Republican leaders – and set the terms for the decennial redrawing of House seats.

"You never had the sense that Haley Barbour didn't have control of the situation," Colorado GOP Chairman Dick Wadhams told POLITICO. "In terms of his political impact, governorships in 2010 are even more important than most cycles because of the redistricting that will occur in 2011 for 2012 and beyond. So the fact that he's raised massive amounts of money at the RGA to help elect Republican governors will have an impact way beyond the 2010 election."