Republicans using race in Maryland Senate Race

[KingFlorez]

With the way things are going for Bush, a blue state like Maryland which hasn't elected a Republican to the Senate since 1980 is not going to elect Steele to be another rubberstamp for the radical, ultra right-wing agenda. So, it appears to me they are trying to get a racial debate started, by trying to create the illusion that the Democrats are racist against Steele in hopes of getting black votes. It's pretty obvious, everytime I read in article about Steele it always includes some reference to a racial incident.

[Mutley]

1. The repubs claimed that Oreo cookies were thrown at Steele...

but even Gov. Ehrlich (R) himself has denied it. I think more focus will likely be on Senator Sarbane's (D) seat.

[carpetbagger]

2. No, Steele's a legit, first-rank candidate.

This isn't Alan Keyes again. Steele is one of only a half-dozen republicans in senior positions in Maryland. (My list would be Ehrlich, Steele, Morella, Bentley, Gilchrist, Bartlett, and two of those seem satisfied to stay in retirement, two in congress).

I think Steele's ham-fisted tall tales say more about Steele than about the GOP in general. My theory is that he's got some issues about identification with a party who wins elections year after year plying dog-whistles to turn out white racists, but I don't pay much attention to the guy.

[KingFlorez]

3. Didn't say he wasn't legitimate

I meant with the anti-Bush climate in a blue state, I think that will work against Steele, because people will view him as a person who will be a rubberstamp for Bush.

[SaveElmer]

5. He's a poor candidate...

He is not good in debate...takes no clear positions of his own. Ben Cardin, who is very much in the mold of Sarbanes will win fairly easily.

[Leopolds Ghost]

4. One thing interesting about Steele is he's against the DP

I wonder what the DLC's preferred candidate, wossisname from Baltimore, has to say about it.

I'm pretty sure Mfume's and Populist candidate Kevin Zeese are against the DP.