Soccer Dad

Democratic alignment in maryland

When Governor Ehrlich faces of against either Martin O'Malley or Douglas Duncan in November, there's no doubt that the Baltimore Sun and Washington Post will endorse the Democrat. There's also little doubt whom each paper will endorse for the Democratic primary in September. The editorial positions on the threatened (but overridden by legislature) takeover of Baltimore City schools by the State of Maryland makes it clear.

Yesterday the Washington Post's editor's opined in Baltimore's disgrace

That's too bad, because Baltimore schools need urgent attention. In all, 54 of them are classified as low-performing; the 11 schools on the state's takeover list are just the bottom of the barrel. City officials insists they have a plan to reform the failing schools, but it's really too late; they've been failing for too long, and there is no indication the city is up to the task of making significant improvements.

The Baltimore Sun, as noted before, denounced the move

There's no question that the city school system needs help, and the state should be a natural partner. Instead of extending a hand of collaboration, Ms. Grasmick has chosen to give the back of her hand to the city's schools - and the children they serve.

See also Sun Lies. (via Baltimore Reporter.) and Maryland Conservatarian.

We can expect more of this in the coming months.

I'm also going to predict another alignment. Between Democratic candidates. I don't know how open it will be but I expect that Mayor O'Malley will ally himself with senate candidate Kweisi Mfume and that County Executive Duncan will ally himself with Representative Cardin. It will be risky for O'Malley, but I don't think that he's a good match for Cardin.

For one thing O'Malley was an early supporter of Howard Dean for the Democratic nomination. Mfume's campaign is being run by Joe Trippi Dean's campaign manager. Perhaps that's not the strongest reason though.

Four years ago the powers that be in Maryland's Democratic party prevailed on O'Malley not to run against then Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. Townsend lacked charisma and ended up losing narrowly to Governor Ehrlich. I have to believe that O'Malley's felt cheated these past four years. A more charismatic candidate such as O'Malley may well have kept the Governor's mansion in Democratic hands. One of those politicians who pressure O'Malley to forego the race was Ben Cardin.

By default and perhaps by positioning (as more moderate liberals) Duncan and Cardin make a logical team. Both are liberals, to be sure, but I don't think that they are quite as far to the left as either O'Malley or certainly Mfume.

Maybe I'm wrong about O'Malley-Mfume, which is speculation. But the split between the Sun and the Post is clear. Continue to expect each to support the hometown boy made good.

Technorati tags: Maryland politics, Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, Doug Duncan, Kweisi Mfume, Ben Cardin, Martin O/'Malley.

Posted by SoccerDad at April 11, 2006 6:14 AM