Steele's candidacy was controversial as he was seen as being on the left of his party's base and had been a member of the Republican Leadership Council, an anti-social-conservatism movement.
党内での基盤は左派と見られていたことと、かつて反社会的保守主義の動きであるRepublicanLeadershipCouncilの一員であったために、スティールの立候補は物議をかもしました。