Rejected at Home

Imagine this: you're the high school's star quarterback. You've had a few good seasons, some say the best in the school's history. But this season, you've got bigger dreams: you're going for the All-American Team. You work hard, going to try-outs and warming up to the judges. And then, just as you're feeling on top of the world, your principle goes and says he thinks the quarterback from your school's big rival would be a better All-American Quarterback.

Now how does that make you feel?

Mayor Martin O'Malley and MoCo Exec Doug Duncan, the two contenders for the Democratic nomination in the gubernatorial race, must know exactly how it feels. Yesterday, "each ventured into his rival’s back yard to snag an endorsement," according to the Gazette.

Rockville Mayor Larry Giammo, a political independent who supported Gov. Ehrlich in 2002, gave his back to O'Malley. Rockville is Duncan's hometown and the place where he launched his political career when elected to its City Council in 1982.

Up in Baltimore, state's attorney Patricia C. Jessamy officially gave her support to Duncan. This isn't surprising considering her rocky relationship with O'Malley and the widespread speculation that Duncan may tap Jessamy as his running-mate (which would be a smart choice considering she's a black woman who would also give the ticket geographic balance).

Despite the fanfare and political calculations that go into these announcements, endorsements don't really make much of a difference in the long-run. Democrats are going to base their votes on two considerations: 1. who they like the best and 2. who they think has a better shot at beating Ehrlich. Endorsements may provide a smiggit of momentum, but they aren't enough to win the primary.

from The League: Reassembled