He’s laid all his ideas in a 38-page “Conservative Resurgance Plan” that also hits on themes of financial transparency and greater coordination with state-based think tanks, as opposed to Chairman Duncan’s new proposal to create a new, DC-based RNC think tank center.

But what sets Blackwell most apart from the crowd is indeed, what he is most well-known for: being a conservative’s conservative.

He spoke frankly about his desire to steer the RNC in a conservative direction, even amid an environment when many politicos say the organization needs to become more moderate in order to compete in future elections.

“We want to know that folks are not going out and embracing candidates who only believe in 20 percent of our platform,” he said adding, however that he recognized “the political realities in Rhode Island are different than Mississippi."

He said the GOP platform is “just a collection of papers if people are not living it.” When asked how he might influence candidates to embracing the full platform he referred to Rule 11 of the party’s rules which prohibits the RNC from contributing money to any candidate who is not formally nominated by the party.

“I might make that a little easier to invoke,” he said.