MD-SEN: Another Steele Democrat, Part II
Prince George County Executive Wayne Curry endorses Steele
By Adam C Posted in 2006 — Comments (14) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Michael Steele (R-MD) has based his entire general election on winning enough Democratic votes in Prince George county to put himself over the edge. Steele worked in PG for many years including as the top GOP official for the county before becoming state GOP chair. He has dedicated himself to expanding the GOP in PG and it seems he is on the verge of a major breakthrough on Nov. 7th. Steele is relying on black voters who are upset at being taken for granted by Democratic leaders to win his election. And the recent endorsement by Wayne Curry is evidence that his efforts are winning converts.
Today, Michael Steele received the endorsement of former Prince George’s County Executive and Democrat Wayne Curry, five Democratic Prince George’s County Council members and several other Democratic community and business leaders at Infusions Tea Café in Largo.
Wayne Curry is a black Democrat who was PG County Executive from 1994-2002. This is very significant because in most recent polls most of the undecided voters are blacks who traditionally vote Democratic but are considering a vote for Michael Steele. Mr. Curry, similar to Russell Simmons, is signaling that it is acceptable to cross the party line and vote for Michael Steele. Mr. Curry's explanation below the fold:
[UPDATE]: Two additional notes. First, Prince George County is the richest majority black county in the country. Steele is making inroads into the black professional class which includes Mr. Curry who is a wealthy attorney. Second, I am left wondering if Cardin's snubbing of the NAACP debate put Curry over the edge. It's possible
This is obviously a historic occasion and I am very happy to be a part of it. I grew up in Prince George’s County. Michael Steele was born here... I am a lifelong Democrat and I am mindful that our emergence as a community has always come along with struggle and strife... this community has been seriously trivialized. We have been neglected, overlooked and disparaged in the sanctums of the Democratic Party... Prince George’s County has been geographically redlined and stratified. It is the place where there is more Democratic voting than any other place in Maryland....
The [Democratic] party acts as though when they want our opinion they will give it to us. It’s not going to be like that no more.
This occasion is special for those who have sacrificed here. We don’t need any TV celebrities to tell us about politics in Prince Georges County…this isn’t the first time we have charged up a hill.
The person to elect, who is most responsive to the things that will make our future brighter is Michael Steele…He is a good man with a good plan.
Here is the updated list of major Prince George’s County Democrats Endorsing Michael Steele:
Wayne Curry, Former Prince George’s County Executive
Councilman David Harrington, District 5
Councilman Samuel H. Dean, District 6 and his wife, Donna Dean
Councilwoman Camille Exum, District 7
Councilman Tony Knotts, District 8
Councilwoman Marilyn Bland, District 9
Major Riddick – former Chief of Staff for former Maryland Governor Parris Glendening
Ron Lipscomb – CEO of construction company
Clayton Duhaney – Prince George’s County businessman
Mike Little, Ph.D., Prince George’s County businessman
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MD-SEN: Another Steele Democrat, Part II 14 Comments (0 topical, 14 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
Behind the scenes. This has Mfume all over it. These guys wouldn't have rolled this out on their own, not without conferencing with Mfume first. Mfume's son has already endorsed Steele, iirc.
This is another crisis for Cardin and the DNC. Steele needs to transfer his staff to the WH to help out Bush after he gets to Washington. Best team in politics, bar none.
"History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it"-Winston Churchill
Wayne Curry is one of the strongest Black politicians in Maryland and would not need Mfume's permission to do this. The major thing about this endorsement is not Curry but the five Black County Council members. They control ove 200,000 Black votes and they will not knock and drag but hand out Steele literature at the polls
We all know how the D's get the vote out and that is not going to happen in Prince George's County.
Here is some background on the other folks
Major Riddick is the former Chief of Staff for the Last Democrat Governor. he also ran for PG county Exec in 02 but came in Second.
Ron Lipscomb – CEO of construction company and the second biggest donor to the Dems in Maryland. <-this is huge
Clayton Duhaney – Prince George’s County businessman <- another big D donor
Mike Little, Ph.D., Prince George’s County businessman <- One of Congressman Wynn's best get out the vote guys and money guys.
PG is a DC suburb. This is a major endorsement that shows bipartisan appeal. Unsurprisingly, 8 hours after the announcement, the WaPo has nothing on their MD political blog, nothing on their front page, and nothing in the MD coverage about it. Hopefully, the WaPo will at least cover this in tomorrow's print edition. We'll see.
They're trying to find a way to spin this so that these guys shapeshift into a gaggle of Uncle Toms by tomorrow's print edition. Gotta help out Cardin, you know.
"History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it"-Winston Churchill
Wayne Curry has been leaning Republican for a while. He was actually on the short list to replace Steele as Governor Ehrlich's running mate and has supported the Ehrlich administration in several aspects the last four years...
A lot of other people wanted Mfume to win the primary because polls at the time showed Steele having an easier time against him than against Cardin. Steele can win against Cardin, and as an added bonus, he can help both the Republican party with the black community and give the black community a greater choice (and a chance) in their government.
Just as every cop is a criminal, and all the sinners saints - Sympathy for the Democrats
If Steele wins, then I agree that it is better in the long run to have gone through Cardin rather than Mfume. However, the hill is higher this way. And if he loses by 1 or 2 points, then all is for naught and he could have taken Mfume. We'll see how it goes.
I personally view this as the smaller hill to climb.
Just as every cop is a criminal, and all the sinners saints - Sympathy for the Democrats
were pretty clear. There were many left-of-center white independents who agree with Cardin/Mfume on issues that were not about to vote to Mfume because of his skeletons and personality. They are likely to vote for Cardin. Obviously, Steele's strategy changed due to the primary outcome. And if successful, this strategy has a better long term dynamic for the GOP in MD. Heck maybe Curry can be convinced to switch parties eventually and run for REP or SEN. But Steele has to win first to make anything possible.
Montgomery Counties, I'm quite convinced there are no independents in MD. There may be left-of-center Democrats who don't want to associate with the socialists and communists who run the Democrat party, and therefore won't adopt that label; but there aren't any indedepents. Given that you move to the question of whether their white guilt weighs more heavily on them than their support of the socialist Mfume....
Never bet against, stupid; never bet against white guilt in a left-of-center Democrat. Or Republican for that matter.
i think cardin is beatable. i don't think that steele could have beaten mfume in the end - regardless of what the polls were saying way back when.
the liberals would have come home to roost and african-american voters would have had little reason to bolt the Democratic Party. but, now they have every reason, and the white liberals are already committed to the party where they would have ended up in steele v. mfume anyway.
i think that steele will win.
I just donated another $50 through the Club for Growth (along with Mike Bouchard, George Allen, Chris Chocola, and Rick O'Donnell.) :-) Since Jim Talent isn't endorsed by Club for Growth, I had to donate separately.
GO MICHAEL STEELE!
I think Steele probably has a better chance at winning than Allen does.
The Steele campaign includes a couple quotes from the WaPo in old articles about Curry:
Social Security Choice - Club For Growth