Ehrlich reaches out to blacks with fund-raiser at nightclub - Effort to woo Democrats gaining ground

The Baltimore Sun ^ | August 22, 2002 | Tim Craig and Sarah Koenig

[jackbill]

In an effort to broaden his appeal in the black community, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Rep. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. staged a fund-raiser and rally last night at a downtown Baltimore nightclub in an attempt to win over traditionally Democratic voters.

He even sang "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" as several hundred people, most of them African-American, ate Swedish meatballs and chicken wings at the $100-a-ticket event.

[jackbill]

In my opinion, blacks in Maryland have nothing to lose by voting for Ehrlich. If he wins, he will not be able to do much against them, even if he wanted to, because of the heavily DemocRAT legislature. And it would be a great opportunity for the blacks to show the Democrats that they won't be taken for granted.

[College Repub]

True,in MD Dems outnumber Repubs 2-1 but those are also the numbers in West Virginia and Bush won there. Stranger things have happened!

[jackbill]

bump

[Coop]

From the crowd's reception, it appeared that at least some black voters - most of them lifelong Democrats - are responding to the Republican ticket's message.

"The Democratic candidate has demonstrated to me she is insensitive to the minority community that she is supposed to represent," said Chet Howard, 60, a contractor from Prince George's County. "I further suspect she is incompetent even if she wasn't insensitive."

Eeee-youch!!!

Many others said they were attending because they received a free ticket from Ehrlich supporters and have not decided who will get their vote. One guest didn't even know Ehrlich was a Republican.

Fair enough. I give the ticket credit, they're going after every vote. As it should be.

[Black Agnes]

Hmmmm ping

[Theodore R.]

Well, it would be nice to see blacks demonstrate political independence in MD. For that matter, it would be nice to see whites exert political independence in MD also.

[Black Agnes]

I for one would like to see blacks AND white independent of the democommies in MD but that's just me! :)

[Bigg Red]

I for one would like to see blacks AND white independent of the democommies in MD...

I second that!

[speekinout]

True,in MD Dems outnumber Repubs 2-1 but those are also the numbers in West Virginia and Bush won there

WV is also overwhelmingly white and Christian. The MD Dems are mostly Black. Or Jewish.

[I Hired Craig Livingstone]

WV is also overwhelmingly white and Christian. The MD Dems are mostly Black. Or Jewish.

Uhh, no they're not.

[College Repub]

Not really.

[speekinout]

WV is also overwhelmingly white and Christian. The MD Dems are mostly Black. Or Jewish.

Which of these statements do you disagree with? And why?

[College Repub]

I disagree with the latter because you don't mention the large catholic and liberal protestants. Further, Jews are not much of a force in MD Politics. And a few Jews are among the largest doners to the State GOP party.

[speekinout]

Jews are not much of a force in MD Politics.

Not true! The three Dem strongholds in MD are Baltimore, PG county, and Mont. County. In Mont. County, the Dem base is largely Jewish. And even more than that, the Jewish lawyers have a real stronghold on MD politics.