MD: Hogan holding 2/3 approval rating

[warandwar]

I think Larry Hogan will be like Bill Weld in 2018, as long as it isn't like a 2006 environment.  All the A list candidates, like Ruppersberger, Gansler, Franchot, and Leggett may well decide it isn't worth the risk running against a popular incumbent like Hogan and take a pass, and Hogan gets a B or C list challenger.  I think O'Malley is more likely to let his presidential bid run his course and hope for Cardin to retire in 2018 so he can slide right into the Senate. 

LOL Gansler and Franchot are F list candidates, two of the most personally unpleasant people you'll ever meet. No one knows Ruppersberger, anyways.

[warandwar]

Here is an explanation as to why Gov. Larry Hogan is popular, and why he may even be re-elected in 2018:

-keeps a narrow focus on his campaign promises
-communicates well with the electorate
-looks as if he knows what he is doing, despite never having run for office before being elected governor.
-strategically engineers stand-offs with a more liberal, Democratic-dominated General Assembly.  

The joke here is that the article was written after Hogan has been humiliated by the GA, getting every one of his vetoes over-ridden and then making a huge unforced error, having to walk back on using money meant for improvements for B-more HBCUs for a new jail. We'll see how popular he lasts...
He is hitting all the "be racist to Baltimore" notes that play well with his base, otoh.