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LAUNCH DATE: November 13, 2006
Maryland Politics Today will have an official launch on November 13, 2006. If this changes, I will post information.
Making Things Easier...
on me. The Capital has a list of endorsements for statewide offices as well as for races in Anne Arundel and Queen Anne's Counties.
It's apart of the election coverage on their website hometownannapolis.com.
Anne Arundel County: Executive Race Profile
The Washington Post looks at the race which was at last check a virtual toss up according to a poll from The Capital a couple of weeks ago. That poll suggested the North County would determin the race. Del. John Leopold(R) was endorsed by the major newspapers in DC, Baltimore and Annapolis.
Wicomico County Executive Candidates To Debate On Radio
The Daily Times and Public Radio Delmarva will host a midday call-in show featuring Wicomico County Executive Candidates Ron Alessi(R) and Rick Pollitt(D). The broadcast will begin at noon and will be simulcast on WSDL (90.7FM) and WSCL (89.5FM). Those outside of the Salsibury-Ocean City Area can listen online. The forum will also be on television via on PAC-14.
Not apart of this form is write-in candidate Charles Jannace(R) who is mostly running to challenge Ron Alessi. He says that Public Radio Delmarva will be featuring in a seperate interview. Also on his blog, he does not expect to have his name mentioned in The Daily Times endorsement.
Daily Times Makes More Endorsements
The Paper's Editorial Board makes their endorsements for House of Delegates known for the Lower Eastern Shore.
Wicomico County: Sheriff Steps Steps Aside
Wicomico County Sheriff Hunter Nelms is stepping aside from day-to-day operations. He wants to concentrate on his retirement and transition to whoever is replacing him after Tuesday. More from The Daily Times.
O'Malley Gets On The Bus
Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley is making his final swing across the state on a bus tour, taking him to all corners of the free state. He was hounded by questions of the new Sun Poll showing a dead heat between him and Governor Robert Ehrlich(R), who was in the Capital Region. More from The Baltimore Sun.
Steele Cuts Edge In Half
This one even surprised me, Lt. Governor Michael Steele(R) who was railing in early double digit territory in every poll released has just cut the advatcage of Rep. Ben Cardin(D) in half in the latest Baltimore Sun Poll.
Examiner Endorsements.....
The Washington Examiner endorses Governor Robert Ehrlich (R) for re-election in the plainest language that I have ever read in an endorsement since The Sun endorsement of KKT four years ago: "Let’s return Gov. Ehrlich to Annapolis and Mayor O’Malley to city hall." Of course they go into more detail than that.
The Baltimore Examiner is endorsing U.S. Senate Candidate...and Lt. Governor Michael Steele(R). I read their reasoning, which has a little more meat the The Washington Times Endorsement (SEE MORE).
The Baltimore Examiner is also endorsing Montgomery County State's Attorney Douglas Gansler for promotion. They think Frederick COunty State's Attorney Scott Rolle would be solid, but the decision of Campaign Manager Jason Shoemaker to represent a Bowie man seeking to oust was a black eye (SEE MORE).
The Washington Examiner is backing the return of Albert Wynn, Christopher Van Hollen and Steny Hoyey to the U.S. House of Reps.
Sour Grapes...oh yeah, The Lawsuit Continues
Daniel "Wig Man..errr, The Wig Man" Vovak has a new blog entry. He's complaining about not being removed from Michael Steele's email list after clicking the unsubscribe button three times. He also is complaining that when he called a Steele campaign office to complain, a campaign worker hung the phone up on him.
Also Vovak notes in his entry that his lawsuit over how his nickname is on the SEPTEMBER 2006 PRIMARY BALLOT will be heard by the Maryland Court of Special Appeals in 2007....or 2008. More from His Website.
Not Just The Governor's Race
Kweisi Mfume(D), who lost to Rep. Ben Cardin in the Democrat Primary says that the U.S. Senate Race also depends on the black vote turn out. More in The Baltimore Examiner. Mfume is backing his long-time friend Cardin for Senate. The two were elected to congress in 1986 and have been friends since that time. Cardin representing Baltimore County, Mfume representing Baltimore City.
My OPINION: More Sun Poll...Breakdown
Looking at the regional and county breakdown of the new sun poll, it is very much looking like 2002 in my book. O'Malley is leading the poll in Baltimore City, Prince George's County and Montgomery County, democratic strongholds no doubt. Howard County shows O'Malley with a two point lead. But when you put the regions together, Ehrlich is carrying Greater Baltimore by five percent. O'Malley is clearly leading in Greater Washington with 20 percent. But outside of Greater Baltimore and the Capital Region, O'Malley is practically toast. A 30 percent advatcage goes to O'Malley when it comes to the Eastern Shore, Southern Maryland and Western Maryland. For the record the Sun Poll puts Charles County and parts of Frederick County in with Greater Washington and combines the rest of Southern Maryland with the Eastern Shore. Western Maryland I'm assuming also , includes the other part of Frederick.
Clearly both campaign are making inroads with their overall themes. O'Malley: "Ehrlich sides with big business." Ehrlich: "O'Malley has failed as Governor." Both might be true, but not without several grains of salt. O'Malley inherited problems that were years old. Ehrlich inherited a bitter general assembly.
Both sides do agree that once again this year, the black vote is the swing vote.
If Western and Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore turns out the vote, Ehrlich will get re-elected, at which point the lower part of the Capital Region (Prince George's and Montgomery County) will not be a determining factor. Also not a determining factor in my book, Baltimore City because O'Malley remains very much popular. If the black vote turns out, the O'Malley will win the election and I think that Prince George's County will be the most determining factor in that scenario.
Either way, based on the poll numbers with a 3.5 percent margin of error and 7 percent of people undecided, I believe it will be exactly like 2002 only a lot tighter race based on the charisma of both candidates and the number of absentee ballots.
Here We Go Again....
In a move similar to what happened before the September primary, the court of appeals will hear the appeal of a case. The difference between now and in September, it's not over a nickname, but rather the qualifications of a candidate. Last week, an Anne Arundel County judge declared that Doug Gansler(D) met the constitutional requiredment to run for Attorney General. The lawsuit, brought on by a Bowie man and represented by the campaign manager of opponent Scott Rolle(R). More from The Baltimore Sun.
Rosapepe Questioned and Defended
State Sen. John Gianetti (R) is now questioning the leadership of Jim Rosapape(D) former delegate and ambassador to Romania. The Capital says that Gianetti is using a state department audit citing bad morale and overspending. Many leaders, including U.S. Senate Candidate Rep. Ben Cardin (D) came to his defense. Gianetti has practically took on the chin as of late, especially since switching form the democrat party. Many of the newspapers endorsed Rosapepe because they feel that Gianetti was "dishonorable" or "embarassing." I think I read one endorsement of Rosapepe where they almost call Gianetti an opportunist.
Another Bob Ehrlich Endorsement
The recent Baltimore Sun poll numbers come on the heels of another endorsement for the re-election of Robert Ehrlich. This afternoon, Governor Ehrlich was endorsed by The Capital, which is the state capital's daily publication. With the endorsement, Ehrlich was racked up the support of the majority of the major newspapers in the free state. We note that while the Sun Poll shows that O'Malley's lead has practically eroded, they did not endorse Governor Ehrlich.
Shades of 2002: This Time, It's A Dead Heat.
A New Baltimore Sun Poll is showing that relentless attack ads by Governor Robert Ehrlich(R) against Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley(D) are effective. There is now one percent separating the two men, making it a tossup.
Endorsement Update
The Hagerstown Herald-Mail has endorsed Governor Robert Ehrlich for Re-election: "In the polls, the race for Maryland governor is close. It shouldn't be. Gov. Robert Ehrlich has done what he set out to do - put the brakes on spending and start getting Maryland's financial house in order. The important items he hasn't succeeded with - legalizing slot machines...reforming the state's medical malpractice laws - failed because a legislature dominated by Democrats blocked them. These Democrats are the legislative leaders that backed electricity deregulation in 1999, then forgot about it until this year, when Baltimore Gas & Electric proposed a whopping 72 percent increase for its customers. These are the leaders who backed the Thornton Commission's educational reforms for the state, but failed to identify a way to pay for them. "
The Afro American Newspapers have endorsed Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley: "O’Malley’s position on issues like minimum wage, the death penalty, outrageous utility increases, slot machines, and the local oversight of the education of our children makes him a clear choice for the AFRO endorsement for Maryland’s Governor."
Pollitt Has The Money
The Daily Times says the financial edge in the first Wicomico County Executive's race goes to Fruitland Town Manager Rick Pollitt(D) over Salisbury businessman Ron Alessi(R) at 2-to-1. Iwas wondering if the money advantage had something to do with the fact that lawyer Charles Jannace(R) is running a write-in campaign against Alessi. Jannace tells me that he is convinced that he is cutting into Alessi's support, which was his sole goal at first. But it looks like the third-candidate theory is playing on both sides. "With the support of some great people, I believe that I have also eroded support for Mr. Pollitt," Jannace tells me in an email.
It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Florida 2000: A Blooming Mess
The Baltimore Sun says that lawyers from both sides oif the spectrum are reving up for a post-election battle. I think as far as the race for governor, both sides will be gripping.
And if that wasn't enough Governor Ehrlich's choosen second in command had problems getting her absentee ballot. I was watching WMAR-TV (Channel 2) last evening and they reported that Disabilities Secretary Kristen Cox was given the wrong ballot at first. From The Sun "During the time Cox was at the elections office, all 23 phone lines were ringing nonstop, with one person to answer them. Most of the time, they had to ring and ring as Mary Alberta, an elections supervisor who was filling in for the receptionist, helped a steady stream of people walking in the door to vote."
Black Lines Crossed: Steele Democrats Come Out
Former Prince George's County Executive Wayne Curry, who is still very much a democratic heavyweight, came out with five members of the county council (all black) and former Governor Parris Glendening Chief of Staff Major Riddick to endorse Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, a Prince George's County Republican, for U.S. Senate. The message is clear, they along with many black democrats are disappointed that not more than one of their fold (Del. Anthony Brown, also from Prince George's County) are on a statewide ticket. They also feel that the democrats in Maryland are taking black voters in Prince George's County for granted. Coverage from The Baltimore Sun, The Gazette, The Washington Times and The Washington Post.
Duncan's Words Comeback To Bite
Montgomery County Executive Douglas Duncan(D) who was running against Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley(D) in the democratic primary for governor, said the same things about Baltimore schools and the murder rate that Governor Robert Ehrlich(R) is currently saying going into next Tuesday. The difference now is that Duncan dropped out of the gubernatorial race before the primary and stood behind O'Malley. Those words are coming back to bite in a new ad released by the Ehrlich camp. The Baltimore Sun says that Duncan sent a letter to Ehrlich asking him not to use the ad. But a spokesperson said that the quoted were public and they are fair game.
Slots in Maryland...
It will not matter. The Capital says that House Speaker Michael Busch is very much opposed to the idea, no matter who wins the governorship.
Endorsement Scoreboard: Ehrlich 3, O'Malley 1
The Daily Times has endorsed Governor Robert Ehrlich(R) for re-election. Ehrlich already received the endorsement of The Washington Post (which is still ringing this week.) Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley(D) picked up the Endorsement of The Baltimore Sun in yesterday's edition.
The paper says that despite his faliures, Ehrlich is a familiar sight on the Lower Shore and is responsive to the needs of Shore residents. While commenting on O'Malley, they feel that he has not made the Eastern Shore a priority.
Also in their list of endorsements, The Daily Times is endorsing Rep. Ben Cardin for U.S. Senate and Rep. Wayne Gilchrist for re-election as the congressman for the first.
Ehrlich also picked up the endorsement of The Cecil Whig. The paper's editorial board said that Ehrlich completed a succesful first term with no help from the General Assembly.
O'Malley Whips Race Card Out
The Washington Post said that Mayor Martin O'Malley(D) accused Governor Robert Ehrlich(R) of supporting policies unfriendly to Afrian-Americans at a recent forum sponsored by the Baltimore NAACP. The president of the Baltimore NAACP was not happy that the two did not put politics aside to come together.
Cox Profiled On The Campaign Trail
The Baltimore Sun follows around Ehrlich running mate Kristen Cox on the campaign trail. Turns out she is nuts about policy.
Rascovar: Advantage Ehrlich
Gazette Columnist Barry Rascovar says that the advantage going into next Tuesday could go to Ehrlich after last weeks big surprise.
My OPINION: I Agree With Blair
If we have not learned anything over the past four years, learn at least that the democrats are bitter from four years ago for the most part when a Republican beat the unbeatable, and a Kennedy no less.
Now, they want to return to a one-party system without any checks or balances like before. Read Blair's column. Yes I know he might be on right-leaning WBAL, but most of the commentators on the station tend to stay close to center. He brought up several good examples of how out of control and arrogant the democratic legislature has gone. Many of the examples happened this year. To the point that they tried to blame Ehrlich for a de-regulation that was crafted under democrat rule.
The reason I tell people I am not to concerned about Federal Government because even under the Republican control over the past twelve years (with both legislative and executive branches under one party over the past six,) there was always room for compromise. When Capitol Hill was at it's ugliest under Newt Gingirch, they made compromises with President Clinton for the good of Americans. I dare say the two men couldn't stand each other but knew that is was more than just themselves.
When the General Assembly passed two different versions of a slots bill, House Speaker Michael Busch refused to send anyone to a conference committee. When a committee was about to vote on a referendum asking Maryland whether or not to allow gay marriage (which was the smartest thing any state could do from a legal standpoint, despite my moral convictions against the practice,) the Busch ended the day in Annapolis before the committee was set to vote on allowing the bill to expire in committee.
A scary thing for me is that people will vote for O'Malley because they believe that something will get done. Now I will admit, I liked O'Malley when he became Mayor of Baltimore. I am also the first to cheerlead the city as a great place to live and hangout. I also believe that most of the crime in the city is drug related. But despite the successes he had, the fact of the matter is that he is trying to make a wedding cake out of Little Debbie snacks.
The schools are still a joke and I have been saying since I was in high school, if it wasn't for Baltimore City, Prince George's County would be last in achievement. I chuckle how the teachers endorsed O'Malley by default. When they were voting between him and Duncan at their annual meeting earlier this year, the Montgomery County Executive had more votes than O'Malley, but because he did not have the required majority to bag the endorsement, they just said that they would endorse the democratic candidate.
Then when Ehrlich tried to reverse a trend with the school system that started before O'Malley stepped into the Mayor's office, he and his delegation rallied in the wanning days of the 2006 session to put a moratorium on any state take over for one year.
O'Malley has done a good job as Mayor, just as Ehrlich has done a good job as Governor. But Ehrlich is not using a magic trick to make himself look good.
A one-party government system left unchecked brought de-regulation in 1999 which led to the debacle that happened this summer. A two-party system might herald the return of petty partisan politics in Naptown. Sounds like were cursed if we do and cursed if we don't.
Lee: Ehrlich Was More Sheriff Than Governor
Gazette Columnist Blair Lee said that Ehrlich has spent more time to curb the the recklessness of a one-party unchecked system of government and that Marylanders will have to decide whether to keep the two-party experiement going.
More Gazette Endorsements
The Gazette has handed out more endorsements. In the Prince George's County endorsement includes one for State Senator for the 21st District, "State Sen. John Giannetti has proved to be a bigger embarrassment than any tailgate party he ever held." Gianetti has switched to the Republican side using a "sore loser" loophole.
Obama To Return
Illinois Senator and Democratic Superstar Barack Obama is set to visit Prince George's County this week. State Democrats are hoping that it will charge the most affluent African-American County in the country. More in The Gazette.
Regulation Could Be Revisited
The cancelled merger between BGE and FPL has done a lot of things....including take a whole bunch of money off of the table. The Gazette says that it is now fueling talks about regualting the utility once again. One person open to it, Governor Robert Ehrlich. The utility was deregulated in 1999, with rate caps that were put in place that expired in July, setting of a flurry of legislative and judicial activity.
Home Rule Future Uncertain
Low turn out on workshops about home rule in Carroll County are leaving officials with an unceratin future. More in The Gazette.
Cardin Targeted For Playing Hooky
The Gazette says that rivals of U.S. Senate Candidate Ben Cardin blasted the congressman for skipping out on a debate sponsored by the NAACP in Charles County. A spokesman says that they never committed to the debate.
Gansler Is Qualified
So says an Anne Arundel County Judge. The Gazette quoting the judge that the number of years that Montgomery County State's Attorney Douglas Gansler (D) held a license to practice law in Maryland was crucial. Now Gansler can continue on to the general election next week.
Steele v.s. Cardin on Meet The Press
The free state was on the national stage via NBC's Meet The Press. Lt. Governor Michael Steele(R) and Rep. Ben Cardin(D) participated in a series of debates on the program featuring key battleground elections. I would also like to note that Tim Russert brought it to both of them as a moderator, which is a breath of fresh air.
NBC has posted on the transcript on the MSNBC website. They also have the video on the page as well.
Sun Shines For O'Malley
The Baltimore Sun this morning is endorsing Mayor Martin O'Malley(D) for governor.
MY OPINION: Shocker...Not At All.
Well, I can't say that I am shocked. The Sun's endorsement of O'Malley is as predictable as saying that it's hot in the state during the summer. But it's not because The Sun is in Baltimore which is the city's cheerleader, nor is it because O'Malley is mayor of Baltimore. I think the driving factor in this one endorsement is the fact that Governor Robert Ehrlich and The Sun has had a testy history to say the least.
Remember, it was four years ago that The Sun endorsed Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. It was said endorsement where the paper says that Michael Steele, who was the state GOP chairman at the time, brought only his skin color to the table. This time around, the paper said that Delegate Anthony Brown brought "diversity and legislative experience" to the table. Folks, the diversity part is like saying the same thing only in a more favorable manor.
It was also during the first term that Ehrlich had banned anyone in state government from talking to Sun political reporter David Nitkin and Columnist Michael Olesker. The Sun took the governor to court and lost. They eventually dropped the suit and Olesker resigned from the paper when the Citypaper caught him using the works of other writers (including his colleagues) without attribution.
So to say that today's endorsement of O'Malley from The Sun is not worth the paper it was printed on, is a solid statement. Not to say either candidate is perfect. O'Malley's snug, arrogant aura rubs people the wrong way, including his own city council. Ehrlich takes the bait in partisan General Assembly arguments. But neither candidate is at fault for their situations. O'Malley inherited problems at least a decade old. Ehrlich came behind Glendening who left the state a fiscal mess, as he did in Prince George's County. The only difference is that the state constitution requires a balanced budget, meaning not operating in the red.
But the focus on my rant is on The Sun, whose endorsement is not worth anything, especially outside of Baltimore.
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