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Cardin yesterday tried to rally support among black Democrats

Too little, too late?

Senate rivals blast Cardin for passing on NAACP debate in Charles County
Friday, Oct. 27, 2006
By Alan Brody
Staff Writer

Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin skipped a scheduled three-way NAACP-sponsored debate in Waldorf on Thursday night, exposing the Democrat to criticism from his U.S. Senate rivals and potentially costing him votes in a swing county.

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‘‘We’re just maintaining our schedule. Michael Steele won’t dictate our schedule,” Shur said of the Republican lieutenant governor and Cardin’s chief foe. Last week, Steele’s campaign issued an e-mail about the debate that said both Cardin and third-party nominee Kevin Zeese were also expected to attend.

In failing to attend the function at New Community Church of God in Christ, Cardin broke a previous pledge to debate ‘‘anytime, anywhere,” said Steele’s spokesman Doug Heye.

The Republican nominee himself was more diplomatic. ‘‘We wish Ben were here,” Steele told reporters after the debate.

Outside, Steele volunteers held ‘‘Where’s Ben?” signs to passing motorists on U.S. 301.

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Attendees speculated that Cardin’s decision to stump in Prince George’s may have been an effort to atone for a poor debate performance on Wednesday. During the showdown, Cardin stammered and then refused to answer when pressed by Steele on the location of the Purple Line, a proposed Metro route that would run between Bethesda and New Carrolton.

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The largely African-American crowd embraced Steele, cheering loudly as he entered the room before the debate.

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‘‘For him not to come here and let [Democratic] voters maybe be influenced by Michael Steele ... might have an adverse effect for him,” he said. ‘‘Some African-Americans might be influenced by the fact that there is a black face running for the Senate seat.”

Zeese, who is running under the Green, Populist and Libertarian party banners, agreed.

‘‘It’s kind of a diss to the African-American community in this county,” he said. ‘‘... I think this was political suicide for Ben Cardin.”

Without Cardin, the debate was an amicable exchange between Steele and Zeese, who answered a wide range of questions for more than an hour.

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http://www.gazette.net/stories/102706/polia%20s145814_31956.shtml