Small change buys big votes in Fustero [MD] run [Townsend embarrased]

The Washington Times ^ | 9/12/02 | Vaishali Honawar

[Gothmog]

Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend's name recognition and sizable war chest kept some political heavyweights on the sidelines, but they weren't enough to scare off a retired grocery-store clerk seeking the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Robert Raymond Fustero stunned politicians and pundits across the state Tuesday when he and his unemployed, formerly homeless running mate won 20 percent of the vote.

[Gothmog]

Similiar to the article from the Baltimore Sun posted yesterday, but for some reason the Admin Moderator cut the more interesting parts from that one -- about how political observers in MD were shocked she did so poorly -- so I have posted a new, different article with those points emphasized and cut the chaff.

Please note, I am not criticizing the Admin Mod, just including material Freepers might find interesting.

[Coop]

Baltimore Sun articles have to be excerpted. You probably it in its entirety.

[Coop]

The missing word would be "posted." Doh!

[Gothmog]

Actually, it was someone else's post. I wouldn't have posted this one except I thought the key point -- Townsend being criticized by MD political types -- was missing from the Sun article yesterday.

I just wanted to make clear why I was posting similar info so it would not be pulled.

Thanks for the info on the Sun, I will keep that in mind.

[mdwakeup]

Helen Bentley's no-name opponent also got 20 percent of the primary vote, but no one's saying that this is a problem for her in November. This Fustero story is just the Sun's way of creating a story that can be characterized as anti-KKT when they start landing on Ehrlich with both feet as the election gets closer.

Besides, the Unitas story has blown the election off the front pages and the Maryland media won't be back to politics until after the funeral next Tuesday.

[Gothmog]

I will take good news when I see it. Also, the Sun story was yesterday (before the Unitas passing), so it was probably seen by many Sun readers interested in politics.

This is a copycat Washington Times article simply beating a nice refrain.

[blau993]

Thanks for the post, from whatever source.

I very much hope the Ehrlich campaign has a videotape of William Donald Schaefer's speech "endorsing" KKT. The whole speech was a diatribe against Glendenning and his administration, and excerpts from it should make wonderful campaign ads for Ehrlich.

KKT is trying as hard as she can to run away from the dismal eight-year record of the Glendenning-Townsend administration. When you think about it though, if she is going to disclaim that record as the reason she should be elected Governor, then just exactly what ARE her qualifications (other than the fact that she is a Kennedy and therefore assumes her entitlement to the office)?

Put more bluntly, she can run but she can't hide, and the Ehrlich people have got to beat on this until it registers, even with the Maryland RATsheep.

What better way to put out this message than to quote our former governor. Bobby doesn't have to go negative. He can let old "Governor Goofy" do it for him!

[3k9pm]

Add into that the number of dems who didn't bother to go to the polls because of her. And the 50,000 who voted in the Comptroller race and NOT in the Governor race.

You won't see these numbers in the Birdcage Sun.

I HOPE this trend carries into the general election.

[mr.sarcastic]

These results demonstrate better than anything that with an excellent conservative turnout in November, KKT is very beatable. Dissention among the Democratic ranks also means they will be less likely to rush out to the polls in high numbers.... a winning combination if taken advantage of properly.

BTW, from past experience, when the Mod has to excerpt a full text posting, they don't selectively edit, they simply leave the first 2-3 paragraphs and then provide a link to the source article.