Wahington Post:
TUESDAY'S DEMOCRATIC primary in Maryland's 4th Congressional District is a rematch of the 2006 contest between Rep. Albert R. Wynn and challenger Donna F. Edwards. In that face-off, just 17 months ago, Ms. Edwards, a civic activist running her first race for elective office, stunned Mr. Wynn and the state's Democratic Party establishment by coming within 3 percentage points of victory. It was Mr. Wynn's first close call since winning the seat in 1992, but Ms. Edwards's strong showing should not have come as a shock: She is a bright, tough-minded and well-funded candidate whose criticisms of the incumbent are mostly on target.
The 4th District, which comprises a chunk of Prince George's County and a smaller slice of Montgomery County, is among the most liberal districts in one of the most liberal states in the nation. No surprise, then, that Ms. Edwards has tried to outflank Mr. Wynn from the left -- and in the process forced him to repudiate a number of positions that she has painted as Republican-leaning. We disagree with both candidates on a number of issues, not least the American engagement in Iraq: They want to withdraw U.S. troops according to an irresponsibly quick and rigid timetable.
For her part, though, Ms. Edwards, a lawyer and foundation executive, has been an effective, energetic advocate for a range of liberal causes -- the environment, higher minimum wages, stemming domestic violence, campaign finance reform. As a community organizer, she has been an unstinting voice for improving mass-transit options, although sometimes at the expense of building roads that the 4th District badly needs. Even in cases where she clashed with local developers, however, she won their respect as a sensible and no-nonsense adversary. Poised, persistent and principled, she would make a fine representative for the 4th District.
Mr. Wynn has long touted what he regards as a pragmatic ability to work across partisan lines. We're all for bipartisanship, but in Mr. Wynn's case, too often his stances have been unthinking and out of step with his district's interests. His vote to scrap the estate tax suggested he was indifferent to his own middle-class constituents. By flip-flopping on fuel-efficiency standards and opposing campaign finance reforms, he showed his contempt for clean air and clean government. And he seems scarcely aware of the import of his votes to permit federal courts to intervene in the Terri Schiavo case and to support a constitutional amendment banning flag-burning: granting federal courts a license to meddle in private affairs and cramping free speech.
Mr. Wynn has been conscientious in his backing for small business and jobs programs, and he cites his years of legislative experience as an argument for reelection. But we think the district can do better and would with Ms. Edwards.
I'm glad to see the endorsement. It comes on the heels of a negative robocall that came out of the Wynn campaign this week. Matt Stoller has the details and audio of the robocall at OpenLeft.
As many have observed, the polling shows Donna ahead and Al Wynn is showing desperation by attacking her as he is. The question is, will his false accusations against her impact the race enough for him to eek out a win? Also, what impact will high voter turnout have on this race? With the weather not expected to be a factor and a heated presidential race, record turnout is expected....but how high will it go? Will voters with a thirst for change bring Donna to victory?
We all hope so.
Even the hawkish Washington Post hopes so.
For those in the DC Metro area:
Join the Donna Edwards campaign today for the Caravan for Change. A Rally for Change will follow at 3pm in Largo.