Mel Martinez Tapped as RNC Chair

CNN reports Sen Mel Martinez (R-FL) (right) is the next Chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Sen Martinez is Cuban-born and was first elected in 2004. Under the plan, he would remain in office while serving as Party Chairman.

It was Sen Martinez's general counsel who created and circulated conservative talking points in the Terri Schiavo case in 2005. The Washington Post quoted some the memo with at the time:

"This is an important moral issue and the pro-life base will be excited that the Senate is debating this important issue." -- Comments in the Schiavo Memo from Senator Martinez's (R-FL) office, April, 2005

The Schiavo case is often cited as the start of a decline in the polls for both President Bush and the Republican Party in Congress. (CNN/WaPo)