Last week, GOProud, a group founded by prominent gay conservatives I am proud to call my friends, announced that I would be joining its Advisory Council. In the aftermath of that, I’ve heard from friends, family, and others asking or passing on one big question: Why in the world would gays choose to affiliate with the Republican Party and/or conservatism?

Well… with GOProud’s presence at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) having prompted at least some conservatives to abandon the CPAC ship, it’s pretty clear that there are at least a few self-described conservatives out there that don’t like “the gays” all that much and in particular seem to believe that if an individual happens to be attracted to someone with the same genitalia as them, they are somehow predisposed to abhor conservatism and conservative or otherwise right-leaning values (like, say, the kind that one associates with right-leaning libertarianism—my kind).

That’s a convenient storyline, as it happens, for folks on the left who want to believe and argue—just like these conservatives-- that all gays should be naturally predisposed to being progressives or Democrats. In fact, just like Republicans who argue that the GOP should be the only natural home for certain other constituencies (ahem, religious people), it’s a politically useful meme. ...

Tomorrow, 168 members of the Republican National Committee will convene to elect a Chairman to lead the organization over its next two-year term.

The incumbent, Michael Steele, faces odds so bad in his attempt to win a second turn at bat that many RNC observers have questioned just why he has remained in the race to-date; universally, he is expected to fall short of the votes needed to win tomorrow. Thus, speculation has turned to the other four contenders as on-lookers try to handicap their respective chances.

Meanwhile, as Friday’s vote looms, many ordinary Republicans, grassroots activists and so on are just now thinking seriously about the possible outcome of the race and the strengths and weaknesses of the various contenders. Here’s a rundown of the arguments for and against each—a list of assets and liabilities, if you will—that have been invoked and debated throughout the race, as anonymously shared with yours truly by those involved in the race as candidates, operatives and voters.

Who will emerge victorious? Tune in tomorrow—potentially very late-- for the answer.

Ann Wagner

Assets: Wagner—a former RNC Co-Chair and former Missouri GOP Chairman-- is a candidate broadly seen as capable of taking the RNC in hand on day one, and getting it back on track.

Supporters say she has the fundraising chops needed to deal with the RNC’s debt situation swiftly, and then get on with raising hundreds of millions of dollars in short order. Her “Transition Plan” released earlier in the week provides a sufficient level of detail for members to have confidence in her ability to set about making improvements on day one. ...

Fresh news potentially impacting the RNC Chairman's race in a big way tonight: Roger Villere, Jr., Chairman of the Louisiana GOP, has announced he is running for RNC Co-Chair.

This is, to be blunt, a big deal given the RNC rule to ensure gender balance in leadership. Some of the 168 who ultimately will vote in the RNC Chairman's race have expressed reluctance to support either Ann Wagner or Maria Cino for the top job in view of the rule, and the lack of declared male candidates for the Co-Chair position. Villere's announcement therefore presents the possibility of the race being shaken up some as that situation changes (assuming that those previously expressing reluctance to support the ladies on gender grounds were being honest in their explanations as to why they were cagey about doing so).

Villere's letter as sent to those casting the votes, and as provided to me earlier tonight by a favorite (but sadly anonymous) source, is below. As an aside, I'd note that Villere's explanation as to why he considers it worthwhile to throw his hat in the ring arguably indicates the opposite of what some RNC observers have been muttering in recent days: That there is no path to victory for either Wagner or Cino, and that this is a Priebus-Anuzis race now. Sure, Villere could run just for the heck of it when he's secretly confident he'll lose-- but that seems like an unlikely explanation for this move. And my guess is, him running will shake loose some support for both Wagner and Cino.

I write today to inform you that I will be a candidate for Co-Chairman of the Republican National Committee if, at the time the election is conducted, it is in order under Rule 5(a) for a male RNC member to have his name placed in nomination. I humbly ask for your vote and support....