Continuing my series of dairies on the Maryland primary election.....a short one since dKos appears to be having technical issues this morning. You can find last weeks series here:
Part 1,
Part 2,
Part 3
District 21 State Senate and State Delegates
This race got national exposure when the incumbent Sen. John Giannetti performed the heimlich on his challenger Jim Rosapepe as he was choking in a restaurant. Giannetti didn't realize until after saving the man that it was his challenger who was choking.
I diaried about this one last week, but this race has continued to be in the spotlight. This weekend the Baltimore Sun reported that two of the current delegates in D21 are slating with challenger Rosapepe, while the third, Pauline Menes is retiring. Meanwhile, Giannetti has constructed his own slate of candidates.
In his four years in the state Senate, Democrat John A. Giannetti Jr. has made a name for himself by sponsoring lots of bills, churning out a steady stream of news releases and sometimes siding on high-profile votes with Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.
His brash, gregarious manner has distinguished the 42-year-old lawyer in the General Assembly, but it has also put off many of his fellow Democrats, who have sometimes questioned his party allegiance and his priorities. Now the two Democratic delegates seeking re-election from his legislative district are backing Giannetti's opponent, former Del. James C. Rosapepe, in the Sept. 12 primary.
-snip-
Rosapepe, a 55-year-old College Park resident, said he would take a different approach if elected to represent the Democratic-leaning area: "We need a senator who will stand up for the community, even if it means standing up to Ehrlich."
Some political observers say that Giannetti's vote this year siding with Ehrlich on a proposed takeover of selected Baltimore schools created a further divide between the senator and party leadership. They have also criticized Giannetti's votes to oppose a ban on assault weapons and to reject giving the General Assembly greater budget authority.
The delegates that have slated with former delegate Jim Rosapepe are Del. Brian R. Moe, the deputy majority whip in the House of Delegates and 12-year delegate Barbara A. Frush. Ben Barnes , a former aide to Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller completes the slate. Giannetti has slated with two political novices - Tekisha D. Everette, an expert on health care policy, and Mark Cook, a technology guru - as well as Laurel City Councilman Mike Sarich. There are two other delegate candidates, College Park City Councilwoman Joseline Pena-Melnyk and Jon Black, a student at the University of Maryland, College Park.
The Gazette endorsed Giannetti while the Laurel Leader endorsed Rosapepe. I suspect this race will be a nailbiter for Senate. For delegate, the two incumbents are likely to be re-elected while the third slot is an open race.
Sarah Brady's group Stop the NRA has alerted it's members to this race, asking for their support.
U.S. Congress, MD-04
I also diaried about this race between incumbent Al Wynn and challenger Donna Edwards last week as well as yesterday. New since then is the fact that MoveOn is polling its membership in MD-04 to see if it should endorse/get involved in this race. If 75% of its membership responds that they want MoveOn to endorse Donna, they will finally get involved in this last week. Also, Democracy for America did its part by sending Donna Edwards campaign a sizeable check. (DFA members here in the 4th and in the neighboring 8th are solidly behind Donna.)
And there has been another Al Wynn sighting, this time at the corner of Geogia Ave. and Colesville Road. He was waving to drivers this morning during the morning rush. Clearly Al is getting very worried about the challenge Donna is giving him. Our person on the street who saw him indicated he wasn't getting too much love from the motorists passing by.
So far the Edwards campaign has not updated its total for the TV ad fundraising. But given that the total on Act Blue is nearing $80,000, I suspect she has already surpassed the $20,000 to make the Cable TV ad buy. However, every dollar she gets can help her get her progressive message out to more voters. If you haven't had the chance to donate to Donna Edwards campaign, please do so now. The primary election is just one week away!
Al Wynn is airing his own ad on cable, featuring support from Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan. We are all disappointed in Barb for coming out against another woman bold enough to run for office, and in particular for showing that support via a TV ad.
We have the opportunity to not only rid the Congress of corporate whore Al Wynn, but also elect a fabulous progressive candidate who will be a strong voice and leader in Congress. This will be a win not only for MD-04 but for folks across the country who want real Democratic leaders with integrity and courage.