The American Spectator

North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole edged out Minnesota Republican colleague, Sen. Norm Coleman for head of the Republican Senatorial campaign committee, and Republican leaders in Washington and around the country have been underwhelmed by her performance thus far in recruiting candidates and raising money. Latest numbers show the GOP in the Senate trailing Dems and Chuck Schumer’s committee by about a million bucks, something the GOP hasn’t seen in almost six years.

Senate insiders chalk up the fundraising disparity to the need of Democrats to raise more money to run more campaigns, as they have to defend more seats than Republicans this cycle. But no one in Republicans circles disputes that Dole is playing way over her head, and that she has performed badly as a recruiter for Senate candidates. She has failed to upgrade candidates in Florida and Nebraska, and had little to do with the recruitment of the GOP’s one star candidate, Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele.

Republicans will most likely hold on to the Senate, but it won’t be because of anything Elizabeth Dole did.