Donna Edwards is challenging seven-term incumbent Albert Wynn in the Democratic MD-04 primary coming up on September 12th. This is a race which has been defined by a very comfortable, arrogant incumbent and a fresh, progressive challenger.
The Edwards campaign is about accountability and giving MD-04 an alternative. This is the first time in Wynn's history as a Representative that he's faced a substantial Democratic primary challenger.
Both candidates just recently filed their pre-primary fundraising totals. Inside--the good news, the bad and a call for action and support.
Donna Edwards is challenging Albert Wynn for a host of reasons--his votes for the Iraq war, the Bankruptcy bill, repealing the estate tax, the Bush-Cheney energy bill, gutting the Endangered Species Act, support of the Terri Schiavo legislation, and against net neutrality are the chief motivating factors.
Wynn has become something of a representative run amuck in MD-04. He hails from a very Democratic district, yet has burrowed himself into the MD-04 seat and prefers to spend his time and energy voting in the interests of corporations & the wealthy and interferring in local elections. He's forgotten the essential elements of his job as representative--to listen and represent the interests of the people of MD-04. That organic, democratic process has atrophied and the voters of MD-04 (like many voters across the country) are looking for a change. In a cycle which has featured a number of defeated incumbents, Edwards actually has a chance.
There are numerous signs showing that Wynn is on the defensive--from his campaign's dirty tricks (the infamous Wynn staffers who attacked an Edwards volunteer and the Wynn campaign's brutish local tactics and sign shenanigans) to Wynn's recent decisions not to appear at scheduled joint interviews.
There's been mention here by Kos that there's not all that much local netroots buzz about Edwards' campaign. Well, I disagree. I think there's potential for a real upset as we head into the final days before the primary. In terms of the sheer local support outside of the netroots, Edwards has all of the momentum.
Now, to the numbers.
The good news:
From July 1 to August 23, the Edwards campaign has outraised the Wynn campaign ($69k to $44k). Half of Wynn's cash came from PACs, among them the telecomm. and banking industries who Wynn helped in his net neutrality and Bankruptcy bill votes.
This is the period in which the Edwards campaign really started to take off. Edwards and Wynn debated over this stretch and Edwards was clearly the stronger and more energized candidate of the two. Wynn was repeatedly on the defensive over his voting record and was unable to elucidate a believable explanation. Lately, he's taken to instead blame Democratic "bloggers and purists" for his primary challenge. The shorter Wynn, accountabililty and the democratic process are pesky and annoying things.
Edwards has also taken part in a number of other candidate forums and really managed to energize those in the audience. For a glimpse of Edwards speaking at the debate which was preceeded by the staffer attack, see a video here at YouTube. (Sharon in MD also linked to this vid in a recent diary here.
In addition, this filing comes before the Washington Post's endorsement of Edwards this past Wednesday. Since then, she has raised over ~$9k via ActBlue alone (thanks mainly to sites like Eschaton, FireDogLake, DownWithTyranny and Crooks&Liars). The tale of the ActBlue tape between the two candidates couldn't give a more stark contrast, with over $76k in support going to the Edwards campaign and a big fat zero going to Wynn.
Wynn doesn't even have a campaign website. His campaign just looks completely flat-footed. Meaning that this is a legit race.
The bad news:
Ok, I brought you up and got you all jazzed about this race...now it's time to be a little more realistic and acknowledge the bad.
Due to expenditures in getting her name out, there remains a large cash-on-hand disparity between Wynn and Edwards. The gap has increased a bit as Wynn, while raising less money, has also spent much less to-date. The previous filing had Edwards at just under $100k, with Wynn at $415k. Now the numbers are $31k to $377k, respectively. Unlike Ned Lamont, Edwards doesn't have the income chest to draw from to throw into the race.
But, there's still time yet to help. Ten days remain until the primary. The Edwards campaign is currently trying to
raise $20k for TV ads. She's at about $12k right now, so let's show her some netroots love and help her reach her goal. Her campaign represents everything we should endorse in a primary challenge: accountability and a strong, progressive alternative. The demographics in this district and the momentum her campaign has created make this a winnable race. How about us Democratic "bloggers and purists" try to make it happen?
For previous diaries on the MD-04 race, check out the MD-04 tag.
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