So says the
Washington Post about Tuesday's MD-04 Democratic primary, in today's Metro section. Granted, this is coming from the same paper who
endorsed Donna Edwards a week and a half ago. Even before the paper's endorsement, numerous signs were pointing favorably toward Edwards. Namely, Edwards' campaign style and Wynn's unprepared response to Edwards' campaign of accountability and truth telling.
Added onto Ned Lamont's victory in the Democratic primary in CT-Sen., the continual plummet of Congress' favorability and the increasing sense from MD-04 voters of Wynn's bubble of unaccountability have all created the perfect storm which just might knock Wynn off his throne.
Fundraising has likewise trended favorably, according to pre-primary fundraising reports. Edwards outraised Wynn during the span of July 1st to shortly before the Washington Post's endorsement of Edwards, including an Edwards fundraiser concert featuring Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary. (Assuming that Wynn hasn't
deliberately omitted certain corporate PAC dollars in favor of filing his usual late and incomplete amendments.) Since the Post's endorsement, Edwards' fundraising lead has increased even more dramatically. Via
ActBlue alone, Edwards has managed over $35k since the Post's 8/30 endorsement (for a current total of over $96k raised via ActBlue).
This is yet another motivated, grassroots race which deserves following in the days to come. All of the hallmarks of the midterms find themselves present here--running away from Bush, incumbent attempts at explaining votes favorable to the Republican agenda and an electorate offered a very strong, very forceful and principled alternative.
More from the Post on Wynn's past campaigning experience:
But he is not used to having to explain his position. In the past, he has faced opponents such as Republican John Kimble, who once said he was running because "the salary seems good." Kimble perhaps was best known for offering to pose nude in Playgirl magazine in a stunt to raise campaign money, and he recruited Wynn's ex-wife to do a radio ad six years ago.
Wynn described the contest with Edwards, who has support from Barbra Streisand, Danny Glover and Gloria Steinem, as "the liberal elite versus the pragmatic Democrat."
First, Wynn busts on
Democratic "bloggers and purists" and now Edwards is part of some "liberal elite"? What--is David Brooks a campaign strategist of yours? Please, Albert, the citizens of MD-04 deserve better. The truth is that you have nothing that you can campaign on other than the fact that you've held the seat for the previous 14 years. In that time you've delivered contracts to the district and put together local business expos, but those are no match for a candidate who truly offers something long needed to MD-04 voters--a bold vision and truly grassroots-inspired agenda. A campaign that is about a hopeful future instead of a ho-hum service in the past. What you call pragmatism seems to us dopey outsiders as nothing more as finger-in-the-wind corporatism.
Wynn has consistently received over 75 percent of the general election vote. Kimble's dirty campaign against Wynn actually helped to solidify Wynn's support. But this time is different. Edwards is not attacking Wynn on irrevelant issues, she's attacking Wynn on his voting record and his misplaced priorities. Simply put, this seat will stay in Democratic hands no matter the winner of this race. (And, unlike in Connecticut, there will be no re-match in the general.) The question is: have the citizens of MD-04 had enough of simply voting for the guy in office, irregardless of whether or not he's the best advocate of their interests?
But it's not just the Post who thinks Wynn is in trouble. Congressional Quarterly also recently highlighted Edwards' dogged campaign of accountability.
Wynn...had not faced a whit of a contest in his black-majority suburban Washington since his first election in 1992. Edwards was virtually unknown to voters, outside of those involved in some activist circles in the district's population base of Prince George's County.
But Edwards has utilized an energetic campaign style, unexpectedly strong fundraising skills, her fervent opposition to the war in Iraq, and a whiff of controversy--in the form of a dustup between Wynn and Edwards volunteers that the challenger blamed on the congressman's campaign--to become a factor in next Tuesday's vote, if not a threat to the incumbent's re-election.
CQ notes Wynn's utter inability to answer Edwards' direct questions:
Wynn has mostly avoided confronting Edwards head-on, focusing instead on what he has accomplished for the district during his tenure in Congress--including securing funding for transportation projects such as a transit center in Silver Spring, a close-in Washington suburb located in the Montgomery County portion of the 4th.
Changing the subject is not an answer. Edwards has rightfully not let up in her critiques of Wynn's priorities.
As the CQ article notes, Edwards' rhetoric has had Wynn against the ropes. During the NAACP debate, Edwards called Wynn an "anti-consumer, credit card and banking protectionist, and against the interests of ordinary working people." Damn. Just. Damn.
Edwards has been hitting the local radio airwaves recently with an ad equally forceful.
Here's a transcript:
Narrator: 1992. Good times---our man was in the White House and Albert Wynn was elected to Congress.
So what happened? George Bush is back. More young people are dying in Iraq and some Democrats like Albert Wynn sold us out. Albert Wynn backed Bush's war. The Washington Post says "Albert Wynn's votes have been at odds with the interests of his constituents." You see, Albert Wynn took the big campaign money and then he voted for Bush's tax plan for the richest one percent and voted for the Bush-Cheney energy bill for the oil companies. That's why the Washington Post says [that] Donna Edwards is the better choice for Congress. The Post calls Donna Edwards 'tough,' 'articulate,' 'razor-sharp' and 'relentless.' They say Donna Edwards would be "a more forceful, principled and effective representative than Albert Wynn."
Donna Edwards: I'm Donna Edwards. I will never sell you out or let those with the money tell me how to vote. I want America to be America again. I'm Donna Edwards, I approved this message and I ask you for your vote on Tuesday, September 12th.
Meanwhile, over at Donna's campaign site is a note that Wynn has sent out mailers with
fabricated endorsements. I guess that this is Wynn's 'pragmatism' in action.
"I'm not in this as a joke, and I'm not in this to make a statement," Edwards recently told a group of residents during a meet-and-greet at a Mitchellville home. "I'm in this to win it."
...and you can tell. Her attacks have been tireless. While this race remains an uphill battle, Edwards will be rolling out last minute TV ads over the weekend. I have no doubt her role of advocate for the citizens of MD-04 would be equally tireless.
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[Late Saturday update: Matt Stoller at MyDD has more on the Wynn endorsement fabrications.]