Free Republic

With more than $7.7 million raised so far, the 8th District in Montgomery and Prince George's counties is the site of the nation's most expensive congressional race. It's also a critical campaign stop in the gubernatorial race. But all of that cash and campaigning will mean little if voters are too fearful of the Washington-area sniper to go to the polls Nov. 5. Like everybody else, officials at the Montgomery County Board of Elections are hoping the sniper is caught soon. But if the killer remains at large on Election Day, the county is exploring ways to keep people feeling...

He said, she said: With few details nailed down, the looming Ehrlich-Townsend debate has issues to address Radio & TV: David Folkenflik -------------------------------------------------------- Originally published Sep 25, 2002 Excerpted from the Baltimore Sun Aides to Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. say he'll be able to show the whole state his plans to address a wide range of issues affecting Marylanders. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend's camp says she'll have the chance to strip Ehrlich of his ability to hide his conservatism in a state that leans toward Democrats. They're both talking about tomorrow's televised debate - the first in this year's race for...

Democratic leaders convene to rescue Townsend campaign; O'Malley criticized for reluctant support; Concern over 'major disarray' By David Nitkin Sun Staff Originally published September 19, 2002 Excerpted from Original article Maryland's top elected Democrats gathered in a Washington hotel yesterday for a frank post-primary critique of Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend's flagging gubernatorial campaign and began plotting strategies to rescue a candidate they believe is in trouble. The meeting...reflected Democrats' unease over the Townsend campaign. Two new polls show the lieutenant governor has been overtaken by her Republican opponent, Rep. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr... ...With Townsend's prospects falling, some Democratic...

<p>A retired grocery clerk and his running mate - who until recently was homeless - received about a fifth of the vote in the Democratic primary for governor against a Kennedy who outspent him by 2,300-to-1.</p> <p>With 98 percent of the precincts reporting this morning, Robert R. Fustero, 51, from Rockville, had 20 percent of the vote in his long shot bid to defeat Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.</p> <p>Fustero's running mate is Linda J. Atkins, a 43-year-old College Park woman who lived in a tent for most of the past decade.</p>

Just a key excerpt that explains it all... ...As George W. Bush's election makes clear, an occasional verbal foul-up does not doom a candidate. But at times, Townsend seems to have a problem expressing herself. During a recent interview about the death penalty, she said she supported it in part because of what the alternative - life in prison - would mean to prison guards. Asked to explain what she meant, she appeared at a loss. "Just psychologically. You know you're, um, you're keeping people in, in um, uh, maybe they were, they were condemned to solitary confinement. You know,...

Townsend will try to attend forum; Black officials' remarks highlight strained ties. By Sarah Koenig, Sun Staff; Originally published July 13, 2002 As of Thursday evening, the Kathleen Kennedy Townsend for Governor campaign thought it unlikely the candidate would make it to an NAACP forum in Baltimore next week because of a conflict in Prince George's County. As of last night, it suddenly seemed likely she would. Usually, there isn't such hot interest in the lieutenant governor's public schedule. But negotiations regarding her appearance -- or nonappearance -- at this event reached mini-crisis proportions yesterday, underscoring her somewhat strained relationship...