if former one-term governor of Maryland Robert Erlich, soundly defeated when he ran for reelection, is even exploring the possibility of entering the contest for the Republican nomination for President.
And yet there is this story in today's Washington Post.
I did have to laugh at the inaccuracy of this statement, made by the Republican businessman who organized the trip:
“No one heard about Bill Clinton on his first trip to New Hampshire,” Mayberry said. “I showed Mike Huckabee around the state years before he ran and no one knew him then, either. At this point in a race that looks wide open, it’s all about house parties and meeting people -- and Bob’s doing that.
Well, maybe nobody knew Bill Clinton in NH in the circles in which Mayberry runs. But he had been head of the National Governors Association, including when President GWH Bush put forth Goals 2000 in education. He had given the nominating speech for Michael Dukakis - remember, the one that went on forever? He had appeared shortly thereafter on Arsenio Hall to redeem his reputation at least a little.
Huckabee also had a natural constituency among the religious right, given he was a minister. He had been elected Lt. Gov and was elected governor to two full terms. One can presume he could carry his own state in a general election, except possibly against Hillary. I do not think anyone believes Erlich, who only won election as governor because of the horrible candidacy of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and who lost his bid for a 2nd term by 7 points to Martin O'Malley, would conceivably carry Maryland in a general election.
But hey, the more clowns in the Republican car the merrier the primary season should be, right?