Cornyn takes reins at NRSC

WASHINGTON – Incoming National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn is wasting no time getting down to business at his new post, immediately putting in place a new executive director for the committee and announcing intentions to revamp the NRSC’s fundraising and recruiting operations.

After a closed-door GOP Conference meeting in the Capitol building this morning in which he was unanimously elected NRSC chairman, Cornyn announced that Rob Jesmer, a seasoned operative who has held posts at the Republican National Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee and who in 2008 managed Cornyn’s re-election, will serve as the committee’s executive director.

“[Planning for the NRSC] starts now,” Cornyn said in a short interview following the meeting. “I thought it was premature to start much in the way of planning until I was elected, and so now we’ll get to work.”

Cornyn said that U.S. Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), who headed up the NRSC during the 2008 cycle, would still be overseeing the outstanding Senate races in Alaska, Georgia, and Minnesota. But Cornyn also suggested he was working to quickly take control of the GOP Senate campaign arm which has seen two consecutive losing cycles, and that he was anxious to modernize the committee’s fundraising and recruiting work.

“Republicans have not been particularly competitive when it comes to fundraising, and we need to step up,” Cornyn said. “But the most important aspect, at least from my perspective, is recruitment. A good candidate can make all the difference in the world.”

Cornyn, who up until last week had faced a potential challenge for the post from U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), had been tight-lipped about his plans for the NRSC until today. Cornyn waved off a reporter’s inquiries on the matter Monday evening while exiting a Capitol Hill fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.).

Some prognosticators are already suggesting that, for a third consecutive cycle, Senate Democrats will find themselves on the electoral offense. In an interview, Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) acknowledged the challenge but praised Cornyn and said the party was up to the task.

“The landscape in 2010 is challenging,” Alexander said, then adding: “When you’re out you tend to get hungrier. You tend to be more unified, and maybe you work a little harder, and I think that’s likely to happen.”