MD Gov: Sources say Duncan to drop out of Governor's race

[Sam Spade]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-duncan0622,0,3478462.story?coll=bal-news-breaking

Sources: Duncan to drop out of race

Democratic candidate for governor, Montgomery County executive to pull out due to mental health reasons, sources say; 2 p.m. news conference scheduled

By John Fritze
Sun Reporter

Douglas M. Duncan, the Montgomery County Executive who has been running an underdog but energetic campaign for governor, plans to announce today he intends to drop out of the race, sources close to the candidate have confirmed.

Eight months into a campaign during which he cast himself as a proponent of education and a more mature alternative to Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, Duncan scheduled a press conference for 2 p.m. today in Rockville to announce the decision, sources said.

Duncan, a Democrat, is leaving the race because of mental health concerns, the sources said.

The announcement virtually guarantees that O'Malley will capture the Democratic nomination in the Sept. 12 primary. Many Democrats expressed concern that a contentious primary battle would leave the party's nominee vulnerable and cash-depleted going into a general election against Ehrlich, who is expected to raise $20 million for his re-election effort.

Rick Abbruzzese, a spokesman for O'Malley, declined to comment. An Ehrlich campaign spokesman could not be reached for comment.

Duncan's decision comes just weeks after he began running television advertisements in the Baltimore market that focused on crime and education. An underdog since he announced his candidacy, Duncan has raised less money than his opponents and has lagged in the polls.

But the 50-year-old has shrugged off criticism of his campaign, arguing that he has always run as underdog -- and come back to win.

"This is going to make things much easier for the Democrats in the gubernatorial election," said Matthew Crenson, a Johns Hopkins University political science professor.

"They have been worried about the short time between the primary and general election," Crenson said.

Duncan's exit leaves in doubt the political future of his running mate, former Baltimore City State's Attorney Stuart O. Simms. Simms agreed to join the ticket a week before incumbent Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr. said he would not seek a sixth term.

Many political observers have said Simms would be a formidable candidate for attorney general.

[Moooooo]

Sad... 

Duncan's campaign was just starting to get on its feet too.  Im thinking his lack of funds played a role in his decision.  He rolled the dice on those ad's in Baltimore and although they helped, they just werent enough.

[TheresNoMoney]

"Mental health reasons"? Huh?

[Nation]

He cited clinical depression as one of the reasons he's getting out of the race. This was real tough news to hear, because I wasn't really expecting his exit yet.

[Virginian87]

That's really too bad.  I actually liked Duncan more than O'Malley.  However, I feel O'Malley had the better name recognition statewide.  I still think he should be able to beat Ehrlich, especially with help from voter-rich Montgomery, Prince George's, and Howard counties, not to mention the City of Baltimore.

[??????????]

That's really too bad.  I actually liked Duncan more than O'Malley.  However, I feel O'Malley had the better name recognition statewide.  I still think he should be able to beat Ehrlich, especially with help from voter-rich Montgomery, Prince George's, and Howard counties, not to mention the City of Baltimore.

Maryland deserves much much better then Mr. "I'll blow sunshine up your ass about the crime rate" O'Malley.