This Friday, Republicans will decide the direction they want their party to move in by selecting a new chair for the Republican National Committee (RNC).

On Wednesday, the results of a survey of members of the Young Republican National Federation (YRNF) were released, indicating that most are supporting Republican Political Action Committee (GOPAC) chairman Michael Steele for the position.

The survey polled 1,249 Young Republicans between January 5 and 12, representing all areas of the country, including Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands.

38% of respondents were from the South, and 30% were leaders in local Young Republican organizations.

The survey asked Young Republicans what was done wrong in the 2008 election cycle, the most important qualities for an RNC chairman, and what strategies the next chairman should use to unify the party.

The results indicate that, while Young Republicans agree on the need for a change in party leadership, they believe that the problem is not in the party itself, but in how the party presents itself.

According to a memorandum summarizing the results of the survey, “The overwhelming majority of respondents felt that the next RNC Chairman needed to better focus and defend basic conservatism while balancing changing 21st Century views (i.e., environment, energy independence).”

The results indicate that 23% of Young Republicans feel the economy is the most important issue. 11% focused on lower taxes, while there was a tie at 10% for energy independence and national security issues.

Concerns about college affordability and the war in Iraq dropped to 7% and 5%, respectively, from 10% for both in a September 2008 survey.

In addition, the three cited reasons for the failure of the 2008 election were the inability of the candidates to address voter’s values, the lackluster marketing campaign, and the lack of successful outreach efforts towards young and minority voters (although, typically, the memo did not miss the opportunity to pin the blame on “media bias”).

There was a wide variety of ideas for what the next RNC Chairman should do upon taking office, but the most popular shared a common theme: integrating youth voters into the overall political strategy for the party, using social media like FaceBook or Twitter as the Obama campaign used so efficiently, and recruiting candidates who appeal to young voters.

The Young Republicans feel that, as a demographic, they were largely overlooked during the presidential campaign, and that, in the future, they want to “prevent losing more of the younger generation to the Democratic Party,” according to the memo.

One Young Republican was quoted as saying, “I would value the voice of young voters. The youth is our future and their voice NEEDS to be heard!”

When asked what they believed the most important qualities for the next RNC chairman should be, the respondents were “unambiguous:” a charismatic, engaging personality; breaking the “older, white male Republican stereotype;” accountability; and inclusiveness.

And what potential candidates did Young Republicans believe best fit this mold?

35% said they will support Michael Steele, GOPAC Chairman, and formerly the first African-American to serve in a Maryland state-wide office. At the time he was elected lieutenant-governor in 2002 (on Robert Ehrlich’s ticket), he was the highest-ranking elected African-American Republican in the United States.

The next top choice was Ken Blackwell, the Vice Chairman of the Republican National Committee’s Platform Committee, and another conservative African-American, with only 8% support. Interestingly, 39% of Young Republicans were “not supporting a candidate.”

Our Take

In short, the Young Republicans want a GOP Obama. Just as Obama was able to unify the Democratic Party, largely through the efforts of his campaign to target youth voters, the YRNF hopes that the next RNC Chairman could do the same thing for the Republican Party.

They are even going so far as to endorse a rising star African-American candidate. This could be a sign that the next generation wants serious change for the GOP.

However, Michael Steele is hardly an Obama. Although he is charismatic, and as the first Republican lieutenant governor in Maryland state history, was able to appeal to traditionally Democratic voters. Nevertheless, Steele is a staunch social conservative: devoutly Catholic, pro-life, anti-embryonic stem cell research, etc.

This could be the reason why more Young Republicans decided not to endorse any of the RNC chair candidates (39%) than supported Steele (35%).

The memo notes that, “Members felt there should be a focus on fiscal/limited government rather than social issues” and “The incoming Chairman must be respectful and understanding of Republican members who tend to be more liberal on the social issues.”

However, it also explains that “No attempt was made to survey opinions on what, if any, changes should be made to the Party platform.”