The American Pundit

Chip Saltsman, the former Mike Huckabee campaign manager who distributed the “Barack the Magic Negro” song, has dropped his bid for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee. Saltsman wrote to the voting members of the RNC:

But, while my travels make me confident in our party’s future, I wanted you to be first to know that I have decided to withdraw my candidacy to become your next chairman.

Thank you for your passion for our party and for the principles that make it great. I hope that you won’t hesitate to call on me as we rebuild our majority.

Left in the race are Saul Anuzis, Ken Blackwell, Michael Steele, Katon Dawson, and incumbent Mike Duncan. Watch the RNC, composed of mostly unheard of voting members, re-elect Duncan. Because why change what’s working so horribly?

By the way, CQ Politics explains Saltsman’s reason for dropping out.

Republican insiders say Chip Saltsman, the man who roiled the race for Republican National Committee chairman by sending out a CD that included a song titled “Barack The Magic Negro,” will not be on the ballot because he was unable to cobble together the six supporters necessary for nomination.

The deadline for Saltsman to come up with two nominators from each of three states was 5 p.m., according to GOP officials.

And like I predicted above, CQ says that Duncan has the most declared votes thus far. He lacks the 85 required, however, and insiders are expecting a multi-ballot election.

More: The American Spectator, Matt Lewis, CNN Political Ticker, The Hill.