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The changing face of Maryland politics
The Burtonsville Gazette ^ | December 11, 2002 | staff

Posted on 12/13/2002 2:51:58 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife

Gov.-elect Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. became the first Republican to win since 1966 by sweeping Baltimore's increasingly conservative suburbs, the Eastern Shore, and Southern and Western Maryland.

The question now being examined in both political parties is: Does this represent a permanent realignment?

Certainly Parris N. Glendening's election campaigns in 1994 and 1998 demonstrated that the Democratic electoral base has come to rest almost entirely on the Washington suburbs and in Baltimore city. He squeaked to victory in '94, winning just those three subdivisions, and at the height of the economic boom won only three more counties in his re-election bid.

Taylor was the most vociferous (and sometimes only) voice in favor of a "One Maryland" political philosophy, which held that the entire state should move forward together on issues. It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that there are at least two Marylands, one liberal, urbanized and racially diverse -- comprising Montgomery and Prince George's counties and Baltimore city -- and the other conservative, white, suburban and rural -- comprising everything else.

In his first days in office, Busch has decided to consolidate power in the House in that Democratic base. His committee chairmen will be entirely drawn from the Big Three subdivisions, and will include two women and two African-Americans, vital elements of the Democratic coalition. In addition, he has disbanded the committee that was chaired by John F. Wood Jr., a conservative Democrat from St. Mary's County.

(Excerpt) Read more at gazette.net ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Maryland
KEYWORDS: democrat; ehrlich; liberalbase; retreat
They just keep running left.
1 posted on 12/13/2002 2:51:58 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Busch thinks he's circling the wagons, but he's really just tightening the noose. The omission of rural and/or suburban conservative Democrats from the leadership will show to be a catastrophic blunder. It's as if he doesn't realize a Republican is now in the governor's mansion.
2 posted on 12/13/2002 4:39:50 AM PST by Mr. Bird
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
bump
3 posted on 12/13/2002 5:02:44 AM PST by foreverfree
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To: Mr. Bird
It's hard for them to accept. They're shell shocked.
4 posted on 12/13/2002 5:14:08 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: foreverfree
bump
5 posted on 12/13/2002 5:14:22 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Freee-dame
Check this link. The editorial for the Frederick edition of this paper is different than the one posted in the Montgomery and PG county editions.
6 posted on 12/13/2002 5:55:32 AM PST by maica
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
As a Maryland resident and an interested observer, I think the election result was just the case of a good candidate vs a poor one, not a political trend.
7 posted on 12/13/2002 10:10:33 AM PST by expatpat
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To: expatpat
Could be. We'll see.
8 posted on 12/13/2002 1:40:26 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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