Maryland’s former lieutenant governor drew a prime speaking slot on Wednesday. As the chairman of the party’s candidate recruitment effort, GOPAC, and a prominent black Republican, Steele was put on the program with two Republican stars, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Steele, who spoke of the need to energize the next generation of candidates, is considered a potential challenger for Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley in 2010.