SEN-MD: "Steele Democrats" include a Mfume
22% of MD Democrats Support Steele in latest poll
By Adam C Posted in Archived — Comments (9) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Yesterday, Lt. Gov. Michael Steele held a rally with "Steele Democrats." As Taranto at Best of The Web notes:
Maryland's U.S. Senate campaign is shaping up to be one of the most entertaining of this political season, because it exposes Democratic insecurities about matters of race. In a heavily Democratic state, the Republicans have nominated a black man, Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, and he has a decent shot of beating the Democratic nominee, Rep. Benjamin Cardin.
Black Marylanders, who normally vote Democratic in overwhelming numbers, may not warm to Cardin, a person of pallor who defeated ex-Rep. Kweisi Mfume in last week's primary. Little wonder the Dems are on the defensive. The Baltimore Sun reports that Dems are up in arms over the slogan "Steele Democrats":
Once could also brave a visit to Kos to see a more vitriolic reaction to the fact that some Democrats are supporting Steele. Although it seems some Kossites are upset because they think Steele is trying to make it look like he is a Democrat. Heh.
Steele is reaching out to conservative and moderate black Democrats through Maryland as an opportunity to support a successful black politician with a plan to combat poverty through educational opportunity and personal responsibility. That message won over Russell Simmons and Michael Mfume and it will win over many other Democrats. Here are a few others. And in case that wasn't enough evidence, the latest SUSA poll shows Steele winning 33% of the black vote and 22% of Democrats. With that, he leads 48-47. That must be infuriating to liberal activists in Maryland.
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SEN-MD: "Steele Democrats" include a Mfume 9 Comments (0 topical, 9 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
Doesn't seem to be playing well in the Dems' base this year...
"Always be honest with yourself even if you are honest with no one else...
...It helps you keep track of your lies..."
--Myself
I sent him some money and will again. Please do the same.
I heard him speak at a GOP dinner in DC several months ago, and while I had heard good things about him I didn't know a lot about Steele. I was floored - he had a very engaging combination of presentation and substance. Having grown up in the District, Steele knows what its like to be at the bottom of things, and he conveys that understanding in how he talks issues. He gave his speech from a podium in the same kind of language you'd use if you were having a conversation with your neighbor out on the sidewalk. I really think that the more he gets out and talks to traditionally Democrat voters, the more converts he's going to win. He speaks the language of regular people and that will resonate - especially since Cardin comes from a political family and probably couldn't relate to the average inner city individual.
Of all the black Republicans running for statewide office this year, Michael Steele has my highest respect. He seems very professional and, while I was initially disappointed that Cardin won the Dem primary, I am getting more optimistic as time passes. Perhaps, the blacks will rally around Steele after all.
This and New Jersey remain 2 of our very best pick-up opportunities. Though don't forget that Washington State has gotten competitive again according to Rasmussen, thanks to revelations of Senator Cantwell's corruption . . .
First, Blacks are 29% of Maryland's electorate, but about half of the Democrat base. Steele does not need all of this vote, or even half of it, to win.
Secondly, Steele is better liked than Cardin. This from Scott Rasmussen:
"Though he trails in the polls, nearly one-third of voters (32%) say they have a “very favorable” opinion of Steele; 29% say the same of Cardin. Fifteen percent (15%) report “very unfavorable” opinions of Steele and 11% feel the same way about Cardin."
Quentin Langley
Editor of http://www.quentinlangley.net
My numbers and what I've read elsewhere show that if Steele wins over 30% of the black vote he is likely to win, and if he wins less than that he is likely to lose. Part of the percentage comes from lower black Democratic turnout and part comes from him winning over voters. The SUSA poll had him at 33% and he was leading by 1. That sounds about right. Note that both Ehrlich and Steele are winning the white vote about 54-41. President Bush won the white vote in MD by a 55-44 margin as well. Steele's inroads in the black community would be what puts him over the top if he wins.
Quentin Langley
Editor of http://www.quentinlangley.net
I'm sure the Democrats are digging into his "bloodlines" even as we speak. Look for the revelation that he had a white grandfather and is not really black at all.