Said to be mulling his own bid for the post, Florida Republican Party chairman Jim Greer instead announced today that he is throwing his support behind GOPAC chairman Michael Steele, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland.

"Michael has everything that the GOP desperately needs right now: the ability to communicate our message from a fresh point of view, an appreciation of how we can use technology to build the party, and the ability to reach out to new voters," Greer said in a press release.

Greer was in Washington this week, as were the six announced candidates who debated at the Americans for Tax Reform-sponsored event on Monday.

"I am grateful for Chairman Greer's support," Steele said in the press release distributed by the Florida GOP. "As the GOP Chairman in one of the largest states in the nation, Chairman Greer's support is critical to our campaign and takes it to a whole new level. He has been recognized as one of the most dynamic and successful state party chairs in the country and I look forward to working with him closely."