Mfume has an opponent for the Democratic nomination to run for the Maryland senate seat.
At first I didn't care if Mfume had to fit for the nomination. After all, he has experience and these battles make sure that the best candidate to run a campaign, wins.
But now that I think about it, I've changed my mind. The Maryland Democratic party should be doing what the Maryland Republican party and the national Republican party are doing. They should have cleared the decks for one person.
The GOP is pushing Lt. Gov. Michael Steele to get into the race.
Right now, if it comes down to Mfume and Cardin, Cardin wins because of the "racial baggage" of the NAACP. Even if all Blacks who are registered as Democrats vote for Mfume in the primary election, without a sizable white vote, Mfume will not win.
I don't believe white Maryland Democrat voters will give Mfume their votes. Additionally, Cardin has already lined up Black politicians to support him.
It is noticable that not one Black politician has said that he will support Mfume, although Mfume announced a few weeks ago.
Black Democrats in Maryland are about to get shown how much Black support of Democrats really means.
"No permanent friends. No permanent enemies. Only permanent interests."
The biggest mistake the GOP could make is not have Steele vetted for the campaign. His position on abortion isn't well known to voters (remember Steele never ran for office except Lt. Governor) and when he goes against Cardin (I agree Mfume probably won't win the nomination) his anti-abortion stance will be pinned on him and there will be rhetoric about how Steele will turn the clock back against women.
Mfume rushed into the campaign. After his announcement, I've heard little from him. He is either getting no press coverage or is campaigning quietly and not getting much support. A Baltimore Sun poll has both Cardin and Mfume beating Steele but Cardin with a larger difference.
Posted by: elg at April 27, 2005 12:24 AM