Maryland Gubernatorial Race 2006

[Moooooo]

Duncan set to announce his bid for Governor tomorrow.

In other news.  Former Mayor Kurt Schomke endorsed Duncan today.  That makes O'Malley 0 for 2 w/ former Baltimore City Mayors.  State Comptroller and former Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer has already announced he is backing Duncan.
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O'Malley to Get Early Union Endorsement

By John Wagner
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 15, 2005; Page B10

Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley will pick up an early labor union endorsement Monday in Maryland's 2006 Democratic primary for governor.

The Service Employees International Union Local 1199 is set to announce its support for O'Malley, whom the group backed in 1999 when he ran for mayor. The union includes about 7,500 hospital and health care workers from Maryland, primarily in Baltimore City and Baltimore and Prince George's counties.

[Moooooo]

Duncan makes candidacy for governor official
Montgomery Co. executive says improving education would be top priority

ROCKVILLE // Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan declared his candidacy for governor today with sharp knocks against the leadership of the mayor of Baltimore and the current governor, and offered a promise that if elected, he would make education his first priority.

"Maryland, it's time to think bigger for our state and for our people," Duncan, a Democrat, said during a campaign kickoff speech in front of the modest, four-bedroom home where his parents raised him and 12 siblings.

Duncan, 49, criticized both Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, his primary opponent, and Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. in his remarks before about 300 enthusiastic supporters in a county where he is serving in his third term as the top elected official.

"I look at our governor and I see a single-minded focus on slot machines and a public policy that is better described as public relations," Duncan said.

Mr. Ehrlich, owned?

In a reference to O'Malley, who has higher statewide name recognition than Duncan and has been ahead in early polling, Duncan said: "Rhetoric is not a plan. Optimism alone is not a strategy. And you have to do a lot more than just 'Believe' that things are going to turn out OK."

Mr. O'Malley, you just got served.

O'Malley has made the "Believe" campaign his hallmark and part of a call for optimism in Baltimore, which continues to have high crime rates and poorly performing schools despite rising property values and some commercial rebirth.

Duncan was criticized last month for pointing out some of Baltimore's problems on the eve of the mayor's campaign announcement. Today, he defended his decision to talk about the city's needs and said the dialogue would continue.

"We won't move forward in our state while our largest city continues to lag behind," Duncan said. "Those who suggest that discussing the problem is a disservice to Baltimore are the ones selling short the city."

Duncan outlined what he said was a three-point plan for education, and said he would release more details soon. The three components, he said, were affordable college tuition for all students; the creation of public-private partnerships to boost parental involvement; and a commitment to place education funding ahead of other programs.

"With me as governor, education gets funded first. Period," he said.

As county executive, Duncan has been credited with helping maintain good schools and a healthy economy in the state's most populous jurisdiction. But Montgomery County is widely perceived as being wealthier and more liberal than the rest of the state -- hurdles that Duncan must overcome if he is to be successful.

The primary election is scheduled for September 2006, and the general election is next November.

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Duncan saves a life.

“If this was written down in a script, they’d reject it ‘cause you wouldn’t believe it,” said Queen Anne’s County Commissioner Gene M. Ransom III, the grateful recipient of Duncan’s efforts.

According to witnesses, Ransom was enjoying his food when a bite got lodged in his throat. “All of a sudden, I couldn’t breathe,” Ransom said. “I was thinking it would get better, and it didn’t.”

One of about a dozen people at the table, Duncan jumped up, wrapped his arms around Ransom and thrust his fists into the commissioner’s gut three times, Ransom recalled. Out popped the offending chunk of chicken sandwich, and everyone at the table breathed a collective sigh of relief.

[TheresNoMoney]

New Poll:

Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies:

O'Malley: 48%
Ehrlich: 42%

Duncan: 45%
Ehrlich: 44%

http://www.wtopnews.com/?sid=602850&nid=25

[Moooooo]

Thanks Scoonie. 

I posted a new poll for each race because its been a while since a non-partisan poll was released for either race.

[Moooooo]

Rumors from The Old Line State...



Apparently Governor Ehrlich is looking to replace Michael Steele with an exact replica.  Prince Georges County Executive Wayne Curry (D) is rumored to be on  Ehrlichs short list of Lt. Gov's.

I know a political professional who is very much on the inside of Maryland politics, and he has confirmed these rumors.  He also went on to tell me that Curry is very much into Curry and will do whatever it takes to advance himself.  He's apparently very charismatic.  Black, Charismatic, PG County... Sound familiar?


Other potential Lt. Gov's include: State Superintendent of Schools, Nancy Grasmick (D).  MD State Housing Secretary, Victor Hoskins (R).

[Moooooo]

8 Children to sue Governor Ehrlich.

ANNAPOLIS (AP) -- Lawyers representing eight children who are legal immigrants sued Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. yesterday for cutting funding of health care for some children and pregnant women who are immigrants. The lawsuit, filed in Montgomery County, seeks to have Mr. Ehrlich's budget cut declared unconstitutional because it discriminates against immigrants. The governor proposed cutting the Medicaid program to save $7 million in the budget he submitted to the legislature in January. On July 1, the Ehrlich administration removed almost 3,000 children from health care coverage under the Medicaid program.

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Id take it with a grain of salt because the Sun paid for the poll.  For those of you who don't know the Sun despises Ehrlich.

From the Baltimroe Sun:

[Moooooo]

Here is a good article regarding important votes in the primary:

Suburbs could be the key to primary

Many analysts agree that Howard and Anne Arundel, between Duncan's D.C. area and O'Malley's Baltimore, hold clutch votes

[WalterMitty]

8 Children to sue Governor Ehrlich.

ANNAPOLIS (AP) -- Lawyers representing eight children who are legal immigrants sued Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. yesterday for cutting funding of health care for some children and pregnant women who are immigrants. The lawsuit, filed in Montgomery County, seeks to have Mr. Ehrlich's budget cut declared unconstitutional because it discriminates against immigrants. The governor proposed cutting the Medicaid program to save $7 million in the budget he submitted to the legislature in January. On July 1, the Ehrlich administration removed almost 3,000 children from health care coverage under the Medicaid program.

publicity stunt.

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O'Malley set to pick Brown as running mate

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Landing Brown would be a major boost to O'Malleys campaign.

Brown viewed as rising star in democratic politics

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Experienced, smart, charismatic, African American, Iraq War Veteran.  He would be an excellent pick.

P.S.  I mentioned him months ago as a possibility.  Picking Brown could push me over the top to supporting O'Malleys campaign.

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Cont'd from previous post.

The Baltimore Sun article goes on to take a shot at the Duncan campaign.

Apparently he has narrowed his list of potential running mates down to 3.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

But at least one of those potential running mates had no idea he was even being considered.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Maybe its just me, but if someone is on your final list of potential running mates... Shouldnt they at least know about it?

[TeePee4Prez]

O'Malley/Brown sounds like a good ticket.

[Moooooo]

'06 campaign just got a little uglier. Ehrlich hires Cleland swift-boater.

From the Baltimore Sun:


In the first major step toward building a campaign team, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. has hired a political director whose major credit is the successful race he ran to unseat a former Georgia senator and crusading war veteran that has Democrats there still crying foul four years later.

Bo Harmon, a veteran of the National Republican Congressional Committee and other GOP organizations, as well as manager of Saxby Chambliss' campaign against then-Sen. Max Cleland, said yesterday that he is coming to Maryland to get the word out about Ehrlich's accomplishments.

Democrats here and in Georgia immediately criticized the hire, saying Ehrlich is bringing to Maryland a virtuoso of nastiness who attacked the patriotism of Cleland, an Army veteran who lost three limbs in Vietnam.

"Bo Harmon ran one of the most despicable campaigns in the history of Georgia, if not the nation," Georgia Democratic Party Chairman Bobby Kahn said in a statement.

"Senator Chambliss' campaign was the worst example of the politics of personal destruction, defaming the character of a man who gave up so much for his country in Vietnam," Kahn added. "If Bo Harmon was willing to do that in 2002 against an American war hero like Max Cleland, one can only imagine what he is likely to do in 2006."

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Its Official O'Malley/Brown 2006




Gubernatorial contender Martin O'Malley's selection of Del. Anthony G. Brown as a running mate shows that the Baltimore mayor has learned from the past, and has an eye on the future.

Recent Maryland political history offers instruction on what to do, and what not to do, when choosing a running mate. O'Malley seems to have absorbed lessons from predecessors about how to run the selection process, and what qualifications to look for in a partner. He formally introduced Brown, a Prince George's County Democrat, as his pick yesterday.

[Moooooo]

New Poll (Rasmussen):

Ehrlich moves into the lead.

Bob Ehrlich  (R)    47%
Martin O'Malley (D)    42%

Bob Ehrlich  (R)    50%
Doug Duncan (D)    41%

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O'Malley raises 4.3 million in 2005.

 Mayor Martin O'Malley raised nearly $4.3 million this past year in his campaign to become Maryland's governor, putting the Democrat on solid financial ground as he prepares for September's primary election, his campaign said yesterday.

Since last January, O'Malley increased the cash his campaign had on hand to $4.19 million from $1.04 million, according to a statement he released in advance of a financial disclosure report due this week.

O'Malley's opponents did not reveal yesterday how much they have raised, but the mayor appears to have collected far more than past gubernatorial candidates at the same point in the election cycle.

"This is a campaign with incredible momentum based on Marylanders' desire to elect Martin O'Malley governor," said O'Malley's campaign manager, Jonathan Epstein. "People are disappointed in the lack of progress under Bob Ehrlich."

[minionofmidas]

Wait ... why's it say "African American"? That guy looks about as African as Arnold Schwarzenegger.

[Moooooo]

New *cough* Zogby *cough*  Poll:

O’Malley 53
Ehrlich 40

Duncan 49
Ehrlich 42

[Democratic Hawk]

New *cough* Zogby *cough*  Poll:

O’Malley 53
Ehrlich 40

Duncan 49
Ehrlich 42

If only Zogby was as reliable as Rasmussen

Dave

[Virginian87]

Wait ... why's it say "African American"? That guy looks about as African as Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Yeah.  I thought Anthony Brown was white.

[Sam Spade]

AFL-CIO backs O'Malley, Cardin

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-omalley0228,0,2259462.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

Md. labor group chose candidates best for 'hard working' people, union president says

By Doug Donovan

Originally published February 28, 2006, 8:38 PM EST

Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley overcame an expected regional divide among hundreds of local labor groups Tuesday and beat out his Democratic rival for governor for the endorsement of the state's largest umbrella union organization.

The Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO voted overwhelmingly in Annapolis to endorse O'Malley over Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan. The group also backed Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin over Kweisi Mfume in the Democratic primary race for Senate.
 
The group's endorsement came earlier than in past state elections because its leaders felt the two races are too important to wait until the September Democratic primaries to put their money and manpower behind candidates.

"We believe that Mayor O'Malley will be good for the hard working men and women of Maryland," said Fred D. Mason Jr., the group's president. "We are going to start now to make sure he is the next governor."

Mason said all of the candidates have excellent public records regarding union issues, but that the group believes the mayor and the Congressman have the best chance to win their elections.

The endorsement of the statewide organization, which represents 290,000 members from 500 locals, can be elusive because it requires candidates to score a two-thirds majority of its selection committee.

Of the 64 eligible voters on the group's endorsement committee, which represented union leaders from across the state, O'Malley won 52 votes, or 81 percent. Cardin won 48 votes, or 75 percent.

Before the vote, Mason and other union leaders had said that winning the group's gubernatorial endorsement would be especially difficult because locals were expected to split along Baltimore-Washington loyalties to O'Malley and Duncan.

O'Malley and his lieutenant governor candidate from Prince George's County, Del. Anthony G. Brown, had a slight advantage with early support from the Metropolitan Baltimore AFL-CIO -- which, with 15 votes, has the largest representation on the statewide group's endorsement committee. The Metropolitan Washington affiliate has 14 votes.

O'Malley and Brown, like all of the candidates, lobbied hard for the group's endorsement, Mason said. He added that the organization was impressed that the unions representing Baltimore city workers were solidly behind O'Malley despite their past differences with the mayor on pay raises, privatization and health care costs.

Tensions between city unions and O'Malley culminated in his 2003 re-election bid when city worker unions forced the Metropolitan Baltimore AFL-CIO to issue no endorsement for mayor. But in 2004, the mayor smoothed out relations with long-term contracts that offered favorable pay raises. O'Malley also gained momentum among unions by securing approval for a $305 million city-owned downtown hotel for the convention center that will generate 500 construction jobs.

Mason said leaders from city worker unions said O'Malley and his administration were always accessible and open to their needs.

"Clearly this endorsement is so very important to the dynamic of this race because it represents the hopes and aspirations of the working families of our state," O'Malley said. "At the end of the day, it was about getting the governor's office back on the side of the working families of Maryland."

Political experts said it is hard to gauge whether endorsements have a measurable impact at the polls, but that the backing of such a large labor organization can only help O'Malley and Cardin.

"While the AFL-CIO is not the only union out there, by any means, it is still the most visible and influential," said James G. Gimpel, a University of Maryland, College Park political science professor. "This now also means that there will be AFL-CIO activists who can now get involved in those campaigns."

Donald F. Norris, a professor of public policy at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, said not all union members will follow the endorsement, but that, "on balance, it's a good thing."

"Is it going to mean [O'Malley] is the nominee presumptive? No, it doesn't," Norris said.

O'Malley has led Duncan in recent polls, and January's state campaign finance reports showed that he had raised more money and had more cash on hand -- factors that were not lost on the union leaders.

"We see the same polling numbers that everybody else sees," Mason said. "We also know from our own experience how much money it takes to run a campaign."

Late last year O'Malley won the endorsement of 1199 SEIU, a health-care workers union based in New York City that boasts 260,000 politically-active members. Both Duncan and O'Malley lobbied hard for the group's backing.

Duncan has won his share of endorsements from smaller locals, including several from the Baltimore area. His biggest came in December when the Professional Fire Fighters of Maryland, an endorsement O'Malley had hoped to land, supported his candidacy.

"Doug [Duncan] has received the support of more than a dozen labor unions, representing nearly 34,000 hard working men and women throughout the state of Maryland," Duncan campaign manager Scott Arceneaux said in a statement. "Today, as expected, a group of political insiders -- heavily weighted with Baltimore Regional unions -- went with the insider's choice for governor."

Cardin issued a statement Tuesday calling himself a "tireless fighter and an effective leader" for Maryland's working families.

"I believe that if you work hard every day and play by the rules, then you deserve a fair wage, good benefits and a secure retirement," Cardin said. "I'm proud to stand with Maryland's working men and women today and everyday. The AFL-CIO endorsement is a tremendous honor and a real boost to my campaign."

Dan Walter, an adviser to the Mfume campaign, said he is "disappointed" and "discouraged" but that he was certain rank-and-file union members will remember the former Congressman's "excellent record with organized labor" when they vote.

[Moooooo]

Im beginning to think Duncan will drop out soon.