There's Another Race?
Maryland political talk has been dominated by the gubernatorial race for the past few weeks. With Duncan's forfeiture of the Democratic primary, the evolving electricity rate issue that pits the two candidates against one another, and Governor Ehrlich's upcoming big announcements, Free State Politics have been decidedly about the next governor.
There are, of course, other statewide races brewing. There is an interesting race for Attorney General. Comptroller William Donald Schaefer faces challenges from both the left and the right.
But by far the most important is the campaign for US Senate. Although the outcome could be instrumental in shaping the composition of the federal government as it deals with issues ranging from Iraq to the President's overstepping his constitutional authority, the race has receded into the background.
The background is precisely where Rep. Ben Cardin needs the campaign to be. Cardin, who leads in fundraising and polls in the crowded Democratic primary, has the most to gain by not actually fighting for the election. Cardin is less likely to lose that presumed winner status if there is an actual fight going into September. With the race on the backburner, Cardin's opponents have less opportunities to make names for themselves and to effectively attack the long-serving legislator.
from The League: Reassembled
There are, of course, other statewide races brewing. There is an interesting race for Attorney General. Comptroller William Donald Schaefer faces challenges from both the left and the right.
But by far the most important is the campaign for US Senate. Although the outcome could be instrumental in shaping the composition of the federal government as it deals with issues ranging from Iraq to the President's overstepping his constitutional authority, the race has receded into the background.
The background is precisely where Rep. Ben Cardin needs the campaign to be. Cardin, who leads in fundraising and polls in the crowded Democratic primary, has the most to gain by not actually fighting for the election. Cardin is less likely to lose that presumed winner status if there is an actual fight going into September. With the race on the backburner, Cardin's opponents have less opportunities to make names for themselves and to effectively attack the long-serving legislator.
from The League: Reassembled
posted by The League: Reassembled at 1:43 PM
3 Comments:
So how does the quieting of the gubernatorial impact the senatorial race?
We'd imagine it would put it in the spotlight. The papers have politics sections which are gonna be filled one way or another. If the gubernatorial race wasn't taking all of that space, editors may find it incumbent on themselves to further cover the senatorial race. In that case, "the others" would have a better shot of taking on Cardin. If they do it now, what does it matter (if a tree falls in a forest but nobody's around...)
But this dynamic doesn't seem like it'll happen in the near future. The coverage will probably turn to the senatorial race mostly only when one of the contenders drops out.
I was thinking of voting for Allan Lichtman in the Senate primary myself, but my brain says the absolute best he can do is a second-place finish.
I wouldn't mind seeing Cardin lose the primary, if only so we could inject some new blood into this Congress. But either way, I don't think Steele has a chance.
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