GOPWars: The First Major Event

Assuming Sen. John McCain loses the election, the first phase of the first major battle of the war for the heart, soul and resources of the Republican Party will take place in Miami at the Republican Governors Association winter meeting from Nov. 12-14.

There, Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC) will be elected chairman and Haley Barbour (R-MS) will be elected vice chairman.

Most of the meetings and sessions are closed to the press and to nosy outsiders.

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And then, a week later, South Carolina Republican Party chairman Katon Dawson holds a semi-secret conclave of Republican National Committee members, donors and activists in Myrtle Beach, SC. Dawson wants to be the next chairman of the party.  NB: Sen. Lindsey Graham is not invited.