US President George W. Bush will nominate his re-election campaign manager Ken Mehlman as the next chairman of the National Committee of the Republican Party, the White House announced Monday.

"The president will ask the Republican National Committee (RNC)to elect Bush-Cheney '04 campaign manager Ken Mehlman as its next chairman" at its winter meeting, spokesman Scott McClellan said.

Mehlman had served the Republican Party and the administration "with honor and distinction," and "was instrumental in overseeing our 2004 historic election night gains," he said.

If elected at the RNC's winter meeting scheduled in Washington on Jan. 18-19 next year, Mehlman would replace Ed Gillespie, who was returning to the private sector.