The Baltimore Sun did an interesting analysis on why Democrats such as Gov. Martin O'Malley did so well in Maryland last night, when fellow Dem governors in states that Obama took in 2008 like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin didn't do all that hot.
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/...
The analysis by editorial writer Andy Green points out that it may be difficult for many Dem strategists to recreate Maryland's road to success.
But there are also some key points to consider why O'Malley won last night by twice the margin he won by in 2006 - 14 percentage points compared to 7 - over a fairly formidable Republican, former Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich. Polls showed the race was tied as late as August, then O'Malley pulled away in September and October, particularly after excellent showings in several debates when he looked more calm and professional than Ehrlich.
Green writes:
"O’Malley stuck with President Obama on health care reform and the stimulus — and wasn’t shy about it — yet he improved on his performance compared to Mr. Ehrlich in 16 of the state’s 24 jurisdictions, including Maryland’s populous urban centers, suburbs and rural counties."
In other words, O'Malley stuck to his guns, firmly answered Republicans' attacks and looked all the part as a leader. Contrast that with how many Democrats who lost looked.
Yes, Maryland is a strong Democratic state with an organized Dem machine, but it did elect a Republican governor in 2002 and Obama won in Maryland in 2008 by a lower margin than states such as New York and Massachusetts. For a sitting governor to win by a margin twice as large as he did four years ago on this night......that is impressive, to say the least.
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/...