Who was the first Maryland state-wide candidate to give prominence to the importance of reaching out to African Americans? Remember those billboards on every road to the beach with the white and black hands shaking? Remember those 600,000 cards with the black and white hand shaking he gave out in every neighborhood,at every gathering,as he shook hands with 600,000 people from March l997 to March 2000? But for that effort, Ehrlich probably would never have chosen Steele for his ticket in 2002. The Sauerbrey campaigns in l998 and l994 had been attacked, unfairly or not, by charges of racism. The Republicans weren't ready for Robin Ficker's hand shaking campaign with the black and white hands in 2000. But it was the right thing to do. I'm proud as a minority woman to support him for Montgomery County Executive on November 7.

Kweisi Mfume appears to know his place at the end of the day. Nothing more to say, really.

Angelina, you're an employee of Ficker's, right? Are you really sure you want to give Robin credit for the fact that Steele is Lt. Gov and a candidate for Senator?

I hear the words "up and coming star in the Democratic party" after Obama's name quite frequently. I see nothing in him that seperates him from any other Democratic Senator. My guess is that Democrats refer to him as a "star" so often because he's black. So, if this is their rationale, why not give another "star" a chance to shine?

As far as Mfume goes, why did he wait so long to come out and endorse Cardin? I'm sure he hated every minute of that endorsement photo-op. No doubt the Democratic machine dragged him there against his will. In his heart of hearts he wants to do the right thing and support Steele.

The Democrats contend that if you support Cardin, maybe next time they'll have a black candidate for Senate. Well, how often do Senate seats open up? Not often enough. You Democrats are real slimeballs.

Steele is right, there is no need to wait for the black community to be represented. He is much more capable of reaching across party lines to do what is right for the people of MD.

On the other hand, if you want a business as usual, knee-jerk party line voting, career politician sitting in that open seat, vote for Cardin.

Rufus - don't believe that you have heard the last from Mfume and Maryland politics. He fell in line - probably because he was promised something from the establishment - - only because they didn't want him endorsing Steele. If you think they would have given him anything at any other time...forget it. Can you say Balmer???

I think people are finally starting to realize that Ben Cardin was the wrong choice.Everyone now knows Cardin lacks what it takes to be U.S. senator. People are starting to regret not voting for Mfume. Heck, Obama pretty much said he likes Mfume better than Cardin.

So how about that arrest quota policy about in Baltimore City--the one that several people have criticized as racially charged? Or commissioner of the week? I hope Mfume runs for Mayor when O'Malley loses and he chides the Mayor for his poor record on public safety making every black Baltimorean the enemy--it's sad and pathetic.

Barak came in solely to improve Cardin's image to the black community after his campaign staffer's blog was busted for making racist comments about Steele and Mfume.

As someone who was in attendance of the rally, I can vouch that Obama is the real deal. BG from PG must know nothing about Obama to make that dumb a statement. A guy who served one term in his state senate, made an amazing speech at the Democratic National Convention, and then suddenly is a leading voice as a junior U.S. senator is a guy who's on the rise. He spoke in a way that was so personable, and yet still so knowledgeable, that it was impossible to not be energized from what he said. Never once in his speech did he make a nasty comment about Republicans. Instead he centered his speech on how politicians on all sides need to not treat politics like a business, and stated how the Democratic party needs reform. This guy is goin places, and he's goin there fast.

He's certain looking for a VP nod in 08. The problem is he said he'd be moderate, went to the Senate and turned out to be a liberal as many predicted.

Mfume's comments were interesting. We look like we have a slate from 1956 and then promising it won't happen next time. It did happen next time because last time was 2002, the time before that 1998, the time before that 1994 and so on. When is the 'real' time the Democrats will put forward a black at a top ticket spot?

Anthony should've walked right before the filing deadline.

Yeah Matt, Obama's DNC speech was soooo inspiring that it did nothing to help Kerry.

Quit blowing smoke rings by claiming that he's non-partisan too. Why else would he be stumping for Cardin, because he thinks he's the best candidate? Give me a break.

Is your life really that boring where you felt the need to attend that dog and pony show? I'm sure you weren't there to be uninspired.

Why on earth do you think that any of the elected AA legistators currently in the MD GA would win a race statewide?

Much of the discussion has been about the lack of an AA at the top of the Democratic ticket. Until this fall no AA that I know of has won a state-wide election on their own until LTG Steele's primary win.

That is one of the reasons why I voted for Ben Cardin and will vote for him again in Nov.

Is this constant grumble about the "lack of Diversity" a help or a hinderance to AA community in Maryland?

Stu Simms, who also received my vote, was not endorsed by two AA elected officials in PG County.

Let's think this through and quit thinking that it is only FAIR to have a ticket that "Looks like the MD Republicans in 2006."

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