Colorado Conservative Wins Fight for GOP Leadership Post

WASHINGTON — Members of the Republican National Committee on Friday chose as their new chairman James Nicholson of Colorado, a veteran organization man and staunch conservative.

Nicholson, who defeated candidates with higher public profiles or who represent more populous states--including California--succeeds Haley Barbour.

A 58-year-old home-builder from suburban Denver, Nicholson pledged to be “a forceful messenger for conservative ideals and values.”

Even his backers, however, conceded his lack of experience on television--a principal showcase for party chairmen--and his unadorned speaking style.

The 165 members of the committee apparently placed a higher value on Nicholson’s 10 years of experience on the committee, as well as his 20 years of work for the party in Colorado.

The race for the two-year post attracted nine contenders, including former New Hampshire Gov. Steve Merrill, who served as national chairman of Bob Dole’s presidential campaign last year; John Herrington, chairman of the California GOP; and Tom Pauken, who heads the party in Texas.

By the fifth ballot, the only surviving candidates were Nicholson, Merrill and New Jersey committee member David Norcross. At that point, his two opponents asked that Nicholson’s election be made unanimous.

His election means that the national chairmen of both parties will come from Colorado. The White House disclosed last week that the state’s governor, Roy Romer, is President Clinton’s choice to head the Democratic National Committee. That selection will be confirmed when party leaders gather in Washington next week.

While GOP committee members praised Nicholson for his dedication, energy and ability to get along with various GOP factions, he also benefited from the flaws of his opponents.

Merrill, the race’s early front-runner, was best known nationally and regarded as having the potential to be a strong spokesman. But party sources said his candidacy was hurt because he is not a committee member and is viewed as an outsider.

Another problem, the sources said, was his highly visible link to the Dole campaign, whose sometimes highhanded treatment of state parties caused resentment.

Norcross was hurt chiefly by his support for a woman’s right to choose abortion. Norcross sought to play down the importance of that issue, promising that as national chairman he would not try to change the long-standing opposition to abortion in the party’s national platform. But he could not overcome strong opposition from antiabortion activists in the party.

Nicholson, a West Point graduate, was Colorado co-chairman of Texas Sen. Phil Gramm’s unsuccessful 1996 campaign for the GOP presidential nomination.

Aides said that as chairman of the Colorado party’s outreach program, he had been successful in bringing more minority voters into the GOP. As evidence of his success, they pointed to the 1994 election of Secretary of State Victoria Buckley, the first black Republican elected to statewide office in Colorado.