The Hill News

Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele said Friday that he'll stay mum about his intentions to pursue another term in that job until later, likely after the elections.

Steele, the RNC chairman who's stumbled on the job occasionally since winning it in early 2009, said he's entirely focused on November's midterm elections for now.

“I’m not saying anything on that until the time is right," Steele said on Fox News when asked if he intends to run for another term as RNC chairman. "Let’s get to Nov. 2 and win and then all the players in town can figure out where they want to be on the chess board.”

Steele's two-year term ends early next year, and it's expected that he might face at least one, if not many, challengers. Former Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) is among those who have expressed some interest in seeking the top party gig.

The chairman has largely sidestepped questions about his leadership and has embarked this fall on a bus tour encouraging voters to "fire" House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) by voting Republicans into office. Steele's travels, though, included a swing through Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, a move interpreted as a possible way to shore up support for a reelection bid.

Steele said, however, that he was focusing entirely on delivering GOP wins this fall, which could in many ways render a verdict on his tenure as head of the RNC.

"This is less about one individual and more about taking the ideas of our party and moving this country into the future," he said. "At the end of the day, I have one job requirement and that’s to fire Nancy Pelosi, and we are going to do everything we can to get that done.”