RNC's Steele in W.Va.

Republican National Chairman Michael Steele will headline a sold-out, $50-a-plate fundraiser Friday evening for West Virginia's GOP, MetroNews reports.

The former Maryland lieutenant governor and U.S. Senate candidate will speak at South Charleston's Ramada Plaza Hotel.

Steele was having a rough start atop the Republican Party when he was landed for the fundraiser in March. The Associated Press reported earlier this week that he sought "to re-establish himself as the head of the beleaguered party" when he addressed a meeting of state GOP chairs.

"Even as he called for a unified front, Steele was fending off efforts to strip him of some control over RNC operations from a small band of internal critics who say he is mismanaging the organization," the article said. "Steele is trying to steer a GOP that's out of power in the White House, Congress and a slew of statehouses across the country."

Update: The Charleston Gazette covered Steele's speech.