GREENSBORO—The embattled chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party, David Parker, said he is staying on the job after party activists meeting in Greensboro rejected his resignation.

Parker returned late Saturday to the state Executive Committee meeting, where he said he won't leave. Earlier, Parker had submitted his resignation, but committee members voted 269-203 to reject it.

"My friends I resigned from this party but I abide by the will of this State Executive Committee and I thank you for your vote of support on this day," said Parker.

Others left the meeting frustrated at the decision to keep Parker.

"I've been a Democrat my entire life and this circus is outrageous. Outrageous. David needed to resign. He should have resigned," said State Executive Committee Proxy Member Beth Ostgaard.

However, some committee members felt Parker was too valuable to lose.

"He's been working with the Convention he's been working with the Obama campaign since he was elected in January of last year. I personally did not see anybody that I thought that could jump in and tomorrow morning immediately pick up the ball and start running it from where David had left it," said State Executive Committee Member Mike Gould.

Republican National Committee spokesperson Matt Connelly issued the following response:

President Obama's chances at winning North Carolina continue to grow smaller by the day and this vote is further evidence that the president's ground game and national convention are in absolute turmoil in the Tar Heel state.