I will be back Monday with private military complex issues!
I AM BLOGGING THESE WEEKENDS ON THE ELECTION PRIMARY AND THE ELECTION VIOLATIONS AND WALLS BLOCKING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN MARYLAND. PLEASE KNOW THAT 501C3 ORGANIZATIONS HAVING THESE DEBATES AND FORUMS ARE REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW TO INVITE ALL CANDIDATES AND WHERE THAT HAPPENS IN MANY EVENTS ACROSS MARYLAND....THE LARGER DEBATES/FORUMS AND THE LARGEST VOTING DISTRICTS OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY AND BALTIMORE IGNORE THESE ELECTION LAWS AND VIOLATIONS ARE RIFE. MARYLAND MEDIA IS SO CAPTURED IT LAUGHS AS IT PROMOTES ONLY THE THREE CANDIDATES IN THE RACE BEING GLOBAL CORPORATE POLS. PUBLIC MEDIA IS REQUIRED TO GIVE EQUAL ACCESS TO CANDIDATES IN THEIR CAMPAIGN COVERAGE.
It is the failure of all ability to get name recognition and platform exposure that keeps people from running for office. Below you see how ridiculous it has become when.....after months of a media blitz on Brown, Gansler, and Mizeur polls show only 25% for Brown, and Gansler and Mizeur around 10% yet, media justifies intensive coverage of these three because they are the 'front-runners'. I dare say that the 54% undecided are waiting to find Cindy Walsh for Governor of Maryland campaign platform which is why my campaign is black listed in media.
IF YOU DO NOT ENGAGE AS A CITIZEN IN POLITICS YOU WILL LOSE YOUR STATUS AS CITIZEN!!!
Follow to the end to see my complaint to the Federal Election Commission as I try to rebuild free and fair elections in Maryland. STOP VOTING FOR CORPORATE POLITICIANS----ALL POLS IN MARYLAND ARE CORPORATE!
Last weekend I took Mizeur to task so I would like to take Gansler on by saying -----how can this man be allowed to run for public office?????
Regarding Doug Gansler and his running mate having an interview on 'progressive' public media in Maryland:
MY QUESTIONS FOR DOUG GANSLER FOR GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND AS A DEMOCRAT:
Given the State of Maryland was ranked at the bottom nationally for fraud, corruption, and lack of transparency by Center for Public Integrity and other government watchdogs.....do you feel that Doug Gansler has done his duties as Maryland Attorney General? Do you think that turning his head to corporate fraud explains why he has a campaign war chest? Given that it is aiding and abetting when a government official charged with protecting the public ignores crimes against the public, do you think Doug Gansler is a qualified candidate for any office in Maryland but especially governor?
What do you think of violations of election law that has Doug Gansler at election events.....debates and forums where 501c3s select who they want to appear rather than sending the required invitation to all candidates? Gansler is after all the one tasked with making the Federal government aware of election violations at the state level.
Why do you think that Maryland media will only allow the candidates chosen by the 1% of Maryland air time during primaries.......the most global corporate of pols continually saying these are the leaders when the polls are saying 54% of democratic voters are undecided? How many time during the election cycle have you heard the name Anthony Brown------Cindy Walsh?
Let's all work to reinstate free and fair elections in Maryland and at least make sure election laws are not openly violated! Global corporate pols should not even be in democratic primaries for goodness sake-----look at the democratic platform!
________________________________________
CINDY WALSH FOR GOVERNOR CANNOT GET A PEEK IN THE MEDIA BECAUSE OF THIS CAPTURE ----ALL 3 CANDIDATES BROWN, GANSLER, AND MIZEUR ARE CORPORATE AND CALLED FRONT-RUNNERS WITH 1% OF THE VOTERS POLLED GIVING THEM 10% OF THE VOTE.
'This week, Nomi Prins, a former managing partner at Goldman Sachs wrote about the long history of how the nation’s biggest bankers have controlled presidents throughout the last century. She writes: “With so much power in the hands of an elite few, America operates more as a plutocracy on behalf of the upper caste than a democracy or a republic. Voters are caught in the crossfire of two political parties vying to run Washington in a manner that benefits the banking caste, regardless of whether a Democrat or Republican is sitting in the Oval.”'
___________________________________________
Below you see a poll released that looked at less than a 1,000 democratic voters in a state with 900,000 registered democrats. You see the media says that high undecided means people do not care------it means the media is not showing them my campaign which is what people want!
EVERY MEDIA OUTLET IN MARYLAND CARRIES THE SAME ELECTION COVERAGE.
This is Cindy Walsh for Governor of Maryland on the democratic labor and justice ticket. When I look at these polls taken on the governor's race I can only wonder-----is that 54% undecided democratic voter simply looking for my campaign?
When I keep seeing only Gansler, Brown, and Mizeur in all media coverage ------when a poll shows the democratic names of the same people with a huge margin of undecided-----is it really an accurate poll and do we really have free and fair elections in Maryland?
I look at the venues with which you partner and I visit them often .....and none of them mention Cindy Walsh for Governor of Maryland.
Now, I have as much experience in administration and a life connected to politics with activism so none of these candidates have any more ability for the position of governor. So, what determines their constant media coverage? Campaign money. At a time when the entire US is shouting foul about corporate and wealth money in elections do we really need arenas like universities and public media -----and a polling institution -----making election winners and losers from which candidate has the most money? Wouldn't it be conducive to free and fair elections to make the platforms available and allow platforms to determine the winners and losers?
Thank you for your time,
Cindy Walsh
Analysis: New Poll Confirms No One Cares About Race for Md. Governor
Current Stories:
Posted on April 23, 2014
Political Commentary by Todd Eberly, for MarylandReporter.com
Who will live in Government House, the governor’s residence next year?
The inaugural Maryland Poll from St. Mary’s College of Maryland surveyed the political landscape heading into the 2014 primary election and found that most Marylanders have absolutely no preference when it comes to the candidates for governor.
The poll is in line with prior polls for Gonzales Research, The Baltimore Sun, and The Washington Post. Much like those polls, the Maryland Poll finds a very unsettled race for the GOP nomination and a Democratic race where the favorite, the sitting two term lieutenant governor, is being beaten by “No Preference” by a 2 to 1 margin.
The 2014 primary is two months away and yet most voters appear to have no firm commitments to the candidates.
No firm commitments
Specifically, the poll finds Anthony Brown with 27% support, followed by Douglas Gansler at 11% and Heather Mizeur at 8%. But fully 54% expressed no preference.
In a three-way race, Brown is close to the 34% that would be sufficient to win a closely matched election. But much like the other candidates, he has been unable to expand his base of support even after a year of campaigning and advertising.
Gansler has been hammering away at Brown on the issue of Maryland’s failed health exchange, but with 11% support the issue does not appear to be helping him.
Mizeur has been generating a lot of coverage and interest of late owing to her unapologetically progressive campaign. She has embraced a living wage, physician-assisted suicide, a moratorium on fracking, legalization of marijuana, and host of other progressive wish list items. Yet she’s made no noticeable progress in winning over potential voters.
Brown’s to lose
The Democratic primary remains Brown’s to lose and it’s likely that the upcoming debates will present the final opportunities for either Gansler or Mizeur to change that reality.
Interestingly, Gansler seems to have shifted his strategy. Early on, he presented himself as a centrist, pro-business Democrat. Recently, he has de-emphasized those qualities and instead focused on more progressive policy issues. This was a mistake.
In a three way race with two candidates already chasing the progressive vote, the smart move is to target the voters that the other two are ignoring. Gansler needs to pivot back to the center. His only path to victory requires Brown and Mizeur to split the progressive vote while Gansler goes for the moderate and conservative Democrats still in the party.
GOP’s disastrous situation
On the Republican side the poll finds a disastrous situation for the state’s permanent minority party.
More than two-thirds of Maryland Republican voters have no preference. Larry Hogan claims the support of 16%, followed by David Craig at 7.8%. Neither Ron George nor Charles Lollar were able to crack 4%.
Maryland is a very tough nut for Republicans to crack. Democrats enjoy a 2 to 1 voter registration advantage and Republicans are rarely ever able to overcome the Democrats’ advantages in the state’s population centers.
For a Republican to win, the nominee would need several things to break his or her way.
-- The Democratic party must be divided after the primary. That could certainly happen this year.
-- The Democratic electorate must lack passion for the party’s nominee. That could certainly happen this year.
-- It must be a good year for Republicans nationally (like in 1994, 2002, or 2010). That could certainly happen this year.
Beyond those three ingredients, a Republican candidate also needs a unified and passionate Republican party and an electorate frustrated with the direction of the state. Neither of those two ingredients are present.
Not enough dissatisfaction
With regard to the direction of the state: Though the poll found a plurality of 46% agreeing that the state is going in the wrong direction, another 41% said it was going in the right direction. That margin is not sufficient for a Republican to overcome the Democrats’ built in advantages.
Keep in mind, Bob Ehrlich had an approval rating above 50% when he lost the 2006 election by 6 percentage points.
A clear majority of poll respondents supported increasing the minimum wage and reported that the Affordable Care Act either helped their families or had no effect on them, a slim majority supported decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana, and pluralities supported affirmative action, the fracking moratorium and gun control.
In a particularly interesting finding, the survey asked respondents how they were registered and then later asked what party they consider themselves to be a member of. The voter registration numbers essentially match state records – 53% Democrat, 28% Republican, and 18.5% Independent or other.
When asked how they see themselves, the breakdown was 44% Democrat, 25% Republican, and 31% Independent or other. The breakdown shows that there is an opportunity for the GOP in the state, but only if the party can broaden its appeal and only if party activists accept that the party cannot win without attracting Independent voters.
No frontrunners in GOP
Several months ago, as I was arguing that David Craig represented the GOP’s best chance at reclaiming the governor’s mansion, many Republican activists challenged my assertion. Both privately and via social media these activists suggested a much stronger candidate existed and would soon enter the race and energize the party. They were referring to Larry Hogan.
Well, Hogan’s in the race and he is the “frontrunner.” But in a race where 64% of potential primary voters have no preference, there are no frontrunners. Hogan has not lit the fire that many were expecting.
Likewise, Craig has not run the experienced, well managed campaign that I was expecting. Craig sought to shore up the GOP base by taking a distinct right turn (thereby harming his ability to win in November) and Hogan has adopted a play it safe strategy by skipping forum after forum (thereby harming his credibility).
And no GOP candidate has any real success raising money. All four candidates combined could barely reach $1 million - meanwhile, Gansler and Brown are each sitting on multiple millions.
As things stand today, it’s hard to see the GOP reclaiming the keys to Government House.
Todd Eberly is associate professor of political science and Coordinator of Public Policy Studies at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. He is currently on sabbatical writing a book, and had no involvement in the new poll.
___________________
Mind you, I am a professional every bit as qualified as these candidates....in fact as regards administration of which much of being a governor is about.....I am probably more qualified. So, making my campaign sound marginal right off the bat tells you there is a push to keep my platform silent.
To:
Federal Elections Commission
From:
Cindy Walsh
RE:
Violations of the election law requiring 501c3 organizations to invite all candidates to debates or forums as the only way to eliminate bias or showing opposition to another candidate.
What Does "Participating in a Political Campaign" Mean?
Organizations with 501(c)(3) status cannot participate in political campaigns.
What is a political campaign? In general, the IRS rule refers to campaigns between people who are running for offices in public elections. These can include: candidates running for president of the U.S.; candidates running for governor; candidates running for mayor; and also candidates for lower elected offices such as school board officials, city supervisors, and county trustees.
What is "participating?" Your organization cannot participate in a campaign, directly or indirectly, on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate. If your organization takes a stand in any campaign, supporting or opposing one or another candidate, this violates the prohibition.
University of Maryland College Park
Bowie State University
Morgan State University
Baltimore Education Coalition
Baltimore NAACP
WYPR
Maryland Public Television
Below you see a list of forums/debates that failed to invite my campaign and following these examples are the complaints my campaign is filing with Federal Elections Commission. At first, I only heard about some of these events afterwards and could not attempt to correct these violations and now, I am notifying coming events of my intent to participate and I am waiting for a response. I am including these events yet to happen because this is a systemic problem and these venues need to be approached this pattern of violations.
*******************************************
‘The first televised debate in Maryland's Democratic primary for governor will be May 7, followed by a second debate on June 2, according to the stations that will broadcast them.
The first TV debate matching Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler and Del. Heather R. Mizeur is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 7 at the University of Maryland, College Park and will be broadcast on Washington's NBC affiliate. According to NBC4, "Meet the Press" host David Gregory will moderate'.
******************************************
Justin Schall, campaign manager for Brown, confirmed the plan and said the three candidates are still working out details. The Gansler and Mizeur campaigns declined to comment.
Maryland Public Television said Thursday it will host and air the second debate with the three Democratic contenders on June 2, a co-production with WBAL-TV’.
********************************************
Baltimore Education Coalition Forum: MD Gubernatorial Candidates on Education
03/07/14 Marc Steiner
March 6, 2014 – Segment 2
We listen back to the Non-Partisan Gubernatorial Forum on Education in Baltimore City, organized by the Baltimore Education Coalition, which I co-moderated with Sue Fothergill, Karen DeCamp, and Zuri Battle Wednesday night at City Springs Elementary/Middle School.
Democratic Gubernatorial candidates Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown, Attorney General Doug Gansler, and Delegate Heather Mizeur share their visions for education in Maryland.
************************************
Democratic candidates woo NAACP crowd in Baltimore
Erin Cox The Baltimore Sun
6:00 a.m. EDT, April 18, 2014
During a forum hosted by the Baltimore City branch of the NAACP and a chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at the Forest Park Senior Center. The three top candidates vying for the Democratic nomination in the June 24 primary election spoke separately at the forum and did not interact.
*****************************************
Democratic gubernatorial candidates clash on assessment of Maryland's economic policy needs
By NICK TABOR Associated Press
April 17, 2014 - 10:35 pm EDT
The Greater Baltimore Economic Forum arranged a panel of business and nonprofit leaders to question the candidates Thursday. They focused on plans to stimulate economic growth and make Maryland more attractive to businesses.
******************************
2014 Maryland Gubernatorial Candidates Forum
Posted by Alana Williams , April 14, 2014 at 08:44 PM
The event is sponsored by Bowie High School NJROTC (Navy Junior ROTC), Bowie High School Student Government Association, the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce and Prince George’s County Social Innovation Fund.
The following candidates for governor have accepted the Alliance’s invitation to participate in the forum — The Honorable Anthony Brown, Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, The Honorable David Craig, Harford County Executive, The Honorable Douglas Gansler, Attorney General of Maryland, Mr. Charles Lollar, and The Honorable Heather Mizeur, Delegate, District 20, and The Honorable Ron George, Delegate, District 30.
*******************************************
uppermarlboro.patch.com/groups/events/p/2014-maryland... Cached
The Prince George’s County Women’s Alliance is hosting a Gubernatorial Candidates Forum, Monday, April 28, 2014, beginning at 7:00 PM
_________________________________________________
MY COMPLAINT TO THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION:
Above you see a list of events already past and a few to come. In every case my campaign was not included in the invitation list sent and therefor when these events indicate the candidates attending were the ones replying to an invitation…..they are covering the fact that not all candidates were invited. There is a huge problem with free and fair elections in Maryland. Baltimore and Prince George’s County are the worst offenders. My campaign has received plenty of invitations across Maryland but it is in large voting districts like these two counties where election violations are rampant. When a campaign cannot even get their name mentioned in these large venues you have deliberate attempts to steal an election. It is no coincidence that my platform embraces issues that are counter to policies presented by current politicians at state level. To silence the voice of a candidate because of the political issues they put forward is an assault to democracy and it taints the ability of the citizens of Maryland to know their candidates.
I cannot control private media outlets and their coverage, but 501c3 organizations are not allowed to select winners and losers.
‘If your organization takes a stand in any campaign, supporting or opposing one or another candidate, this violates the prohibition’.
Obviously, the exclusion of my campaign is a detriment to my viability in this election and this cannot be understood in any other light. The forums above have operated in this fashion for years and I had the Chair of Maryland Assembly Elections Committee Jon Cardin tell me that ‘this is how we do it’. I write extensively to public media outlets in Baltimore WYPR and WEAA to explain that they cannot keep having candidates on their programs and exclude others. My campaign has been completely excluded from all public media and as you see above, the Maryland Public Television event is excluding me as well. This has made Maryland elections crony and the citizens have reached a point of apathy in voting because none of the candidates given the spotlight speaks to their interests. This is why Baltimore has a 20% voter turnout and why this coming governor’s election sees 54% of democrats as undecided……I will project that number higher if the poll was actually performed correctly. That 54% undecided could very well be waiting to hear my platform!
I want to emphasize this is a systemic problem in these two counties……Prince George’s and Baltimore. In Baltimore it is driven by the city power structure that controls all media and events. I would also like to suggest that targeting candidates who run as labor and justice in cities and counties with the highest labor and justice problems is clearly designed to suppress free and fair elections.
Cindy Walsh for Governor of Maryland is requesting the Federal Election Commission investigate and correct this problem immediately because this primary season is in full swing and if my campaign is allowed to be sidelined we will be contesting the primary winner in court. This is a clear case of election violations and the systemic nature of the problem requires Federal intervention into Maryland State Election process.
I want to make one more point. When media in Maryland and these event organizers who discriminate in candidates who attend use the terms ‘top three democratic candidates’ over and again to describe Brown, Gansler, and Mizeur, you have statements that are misleading. Clearly, when a poll is taken with Brown receiving 25% of democratic support, Gansler and Mizeur around 10% of support-----you clearly do not have top candidates. I dare say even those voters would change if given alternatives. What Maryland media prefaces its claim to ‘top three democratic candidates’ is which candidate is receiving campaign funds. It has nothing to do with platform and voter support. This is not what elections are about. This misuse of ‘leading’ gives false impressions designed to taint the voting process. It is deliberate. The polls we have to endure take fewer than 2,000 representative voters out of 900,000 democratic voters to come to these percentages. No one knows how skewed these polls can be. We need an investigation of Maryland’s election process and my case in particular.
I AM BLOGGING THESE WEEKENDS ON THE ELECTION PRIMARY AND THE ELECTION VIOLATIONS AND WALLS BLOCKING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN MARYLAND. PLEASE KNOW THAT 501C3 ORGANIZATIONS HAVING THESE DEBATES AND FORUMS ARE REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW TO INVITE ALL CANDIDATES AND WHERE THAT HAPPENS IN MANY EVENTS ACROSS MARYLAND....THE LARGER DEBATES/FORUMS AND THE LARGEST VOTING DISTRICTS OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY AND BALTIMORE IGNORE THESE ELECTION LAWS AND VIOLATIONS ARE RIFE. MARYLAND MEDIA IS SO CAPTURED IT LAUGHS AS IT PROMOTES ONLY THE THREE CANDIDATES IN THE RACE BEING GLOBAL CORPORATE POLS. PUBLIC MEDIA IS REQUIRED TO GIVE EQUAL ACCESS TO CANDIDATES IN THEIR CAMPAIGN COVERAGE.
It is the failure of all ability to get name recognition and platform exposure that keeps people from running for office. Below you see how ridiculous it has become when.....after months of a media blitz on Brown, Gansler, and Mizeur polls show only 25% for Brown, and Gansler and Mizeur around 10% yet, media justifies intensive coverage of these three because they are the 'front-runners'. I dare say that the 54% undecided are waiting to find Cindy Walsh for Governor of Maryland campaign platform which is why my campaign is black listed in media.
IF YOU DO NOT ENGAGE AS A CITIZEN IN POLITICS YOU WILL LOSE YOUR STATUS AS CITIZEN!!!
Follow to the end to see my complaint to the Federal Election Commission as I try to rebuild free and fair elections in Maryland. STOP VOTING FOR CORPORATE POLITICIANS----ALL POLS IN MARYLAND ARE CORPORATE!
Last weekend I took Mizeur to task so I would like to take Gansler on by saying -----how can this man be allowed to run for public office?????
Regarding Doug Gansler and his running mate having an interview on 'progressive' public media in Maryland:
MY QUESTIONS FOR DOUG GANSLER FOR GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND AS A DEMOCRAT:
Given the State of Maryland was ranked at the bottom nationally for fraud, corruption, and lack of transparency by Center for Public Integrity and other government watchdogs.....do you feel that Doug Gansler has done his duties as Maryland Attorney General? Do you think that turning his head to corporate fraud explains why he has a campaign war chest? Given that it is aiding and abetting when a government official charged with protecting the public ignores crimes against the public, do you think Doug Gansler is a qualified candidate for any office in Maryland but especially governor?
What do you think of violations of election law that has Doug Gansler at election events.....debates and forums where 501c3s select who they want to appear rather than sending the required invitation to all candidates? Gansler is after all the one tasked with making the Federal government aware of election violations at the state level.
Why do you think that Maryland media will only allow the candidates chosen by the 1% of Maryland air time during primaries.......the most global corporate of pols continually saying these are the leaders when the polls are saying 54% of democratic voters are undecided? How many time during the election cycle have you heard the name Anthony Brown------Cindy Walsh?
Let's all work to reinstate free and fair elections in Maryland and at least make sure election laws are not openly violated! Global corporate pols should not even be in democratic primaries for goodness sake-----look at the democratic platform!
________________________________________
CINDY WALSH FOR GOVERNOR CANNOT GET A PEEK IN THE MEDIA BECAUSE OF THIS CAPTURE ----ALL 3 CANDIDATES BROWN, GANSLER, AND MIZEUR ARE CORPORATE AND CALLED FRONT-RUNNERS WITH 1% OF THE VOTERS POLLED GIVING THEM 10% OF THE VOTE.
'This week, Nomi Prins, a former managing partner at Goldman Sachs wrote about the long history of how the nation’s biggest bankers have controlled presidents throughout the last century. She writes: “With so much power in the hands of an elite few, America operates more as a plutocracy on behalf of the upper caste than a democracy or a republic. Voters are caught in the crossfire of two political parties vying to run Washington in a manner that benefits the banking caste, regardless of whether a Democrat or Republican is sitting in the Oval.”'
___________________________________________
Below you see a poll released that looked at less than a 1,000 democratic voters in a state with 900,000 registered democrats. You see the media says that high undecided means people do not care------it means the media is not showing them my campaign which is what people want!
EVERY MEDIA OUTLET IN MARYLAND CARRIES THE SAME ELECTION COVERAGE.
This is Cindy Walsh for Governor of Maryland on the democratic labor and justice ticket. When I look at these polls taken on the governor's race I can only wonder-----is that 54% undecided democratic voter simply looking for my campaign?
When I keep seeing only Gansler, Brown, and Mizeur in all media coverage ------when a poll shows the democratic names of the same people with a huge margin of undecided-----is it really an accurate poll and do we really have free and fair elections in Maryland?
I look at the venues with which you partner and I visit them often .....and none of them mention Cindy Walsh for Governor of Maryland.
Now, I have as much experience in administration and a life connected to politics with activism so none of these candidates have any more ability for the position of governor. So, what determines their constant media coverage? Campaign money. At a time when the entire US is shouting foul about corporate and wealth money in elections do we really need arenas like universities and public media -----and a polling institution -----making election winners and losers from which candidate has the most money? Wouldn't it be conducive to free and fair elections to make the platforms available and allow platforms to determine the winners and losers?
Thank you for your time,
Cindy Walsh
Analysis: New Poll Confirms No One Cares About Race for Md. Governor
Current Stories:
Posted on April 23, 2014
Political Commentary by Todd Eberly, for MarylandReporter.com
Who will live in Government House, the governor’s residence next year?
The inaugural Maryland Poll from St. Mary’s College of Maryland surveyed the political landscape heading into the 2014 primary election and found that most Marylanders have absolutely no preference when it comes to the candidates for governor.
The poll is in line with prior polls for Gonzales Research, The Baltimore Sun, and The Washington Post. Much like those polls, the Maryland Poll finds a very unsettled race for the GOP nomination and a Democratic race where the favorite, the sitting two term lieutenant governor, is being beaten by “No Preference” by a 2 to 1 margin.
The 2014 primary is two months away and yet most voters appear to have no firm commitments to the candidates.
No firm commitments
Specifically, the poll finds Anthony Brown with 27% support, followed by Douglas Gansler at 11% and Heather Mizeur at 8%. But fully 54% expressed no preference.
In a three-way race, Brown is close to the 34% that would be sufficient to win a closely matched election. But much like the other candidates, he has been unable to expand his base of support even after a year of campaigning and advertising.
Gansler has been hammering away at Brown on the issue of Maryland’s failed health exchange, but with 11% support the issue does not appear to be helping him.
Mizeur has been generating a lot of coverage and interest of late owing to her unapologetically progressive campaign. She has embraced a living wage, physician-assisted suicide, a moratorium on fracking, legalization of marijuana, and host of other progressive wish list items. Yet she’s made no noticeable progress in winning over potential voters.
Brown’s to lose
The Democratic primary remains Brown’s to lose and it’s likely that the upcoming debates will present the final opportunities for either Gansler or Mizeur to change that reality.
Interestingly, Gansler seems to have shifted his strategy. Early on, he presented himself as a centrist, pro-business Democrat. Recently, he has de-emphasized those qualities and instead focused on more progressive policy issues. This was a mistake.
In a three way race with two candidates already chasing the progressive vote, the smart move is to target the voters that the other two are ignoring. Gansler needs to pivot back to the center. His only path to victory requires Brown and Mizeur to split the progressive vote while Gansler goes for the moderate and conservative Democrats still in the party.
GOP’s disastrous situation
On the Republican side the poll finds a disastrous situation for the state’s permanent minority party.
More than two-thirds of Maryland Republican voters have no preference. Larry Hogan claims the support of 16%, followed by David Craig at 7.8%. Neither Ron George nor Charles Lollar were able to crack 4%.
Maryland is a very tough nut for Republicans to crack. Democrats enjoy a 2 to 1 voter registration advantage and Republicans are rarely ever able to overcome the Democrats’ advantages in the state’s population centers.
For a Republican to win, the nominee would need several things to break his or her way.
-- The Democratic party must be divided after the primary. That could certainly happen this year.
-- The Democratic electorate must lack passion for the party’s nominee. That could certainly happen this year.
-- It must be a good year for Republicans nationally (like in 1994, 2002, or 2010). That could certainly happen this year.
Beyond those three ingredients, a Republican candidate also needs a unified and passionate Republican party and an electorate frustrated with the direction of the state. Neither of those two ingredients are present.
Not enough dissatisfaction
With regard to the direction of the state: Though the poll found a plurality of 46% agreeing that the state is going in the wrong direction, another 41% said it was going in the right direction. That margin is not sufficient for a Republican to overcome the Democrats’ built in advantages.
Keep in mind, Bob Ehrlich had an approval rating above 50% when he lost the 2006 election by 6 percentage points.
A clear majority of poll respondents supported increasing the minimum wage and reported that the Affordable Care Act either helped their families or had no effect on them, a slim majority supported decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana, and pluralities supported affirmative action, the fracking moratorium and gun control.
In a particularly interesting finding, the survey asked respondents how they were registered and then later asked what party they consider themselves to be a member of. The voter registration numbers essentially match state records – 53% Democrat, 28% Republican, and 18.5% Independent or other.
When asked how they see themselves, the breakdown was 44% Democrat, 25% Republican, and 31% Independent or other. The breakdown shows that there is an opportunity for the GOP in the state, but only if the party can broaden its appeal and only if party activists accept that the party cannot win without attracting Independent voters.
No frontrunners in GOP
Several months ago, as I was arguing that David Craig represented the GOP’s best chance at reclaiming the governor’s mansion, many Republican activists challenged my assertion. Both privately and via social media these activists suggested a much stronger candidate existed and would soon enter the race and energize the party. They were referring to Larry Hogan.
Well, Hogan’s in the race and he is the “frontrunner.” But in a race where 64% of potential primary voters have no preference, there are no frontrunners. Hogan has not lit the fire that many were expecting.
Likewise, Craig has not run the experienced, well managed campaign that I was expecting. Craig sought to shore up the GOP base by taking a distinct right turn (thereby harming his ability to win in November) and Hogan has adopted a play it safe strategy by skipping forum after forum (thereby harming his credibility).
And no GOP candidate has any real success raising money. All four candidates combined could barely reach $1 million - meanwhile, Gansler and Brown are each sitting on multiple millions.
As things stand today, it’s hard to see the GOP reclaiming the keys to Government House.
Todd Eberly is associate professor of political science and Coordinator of Public Policy Studies at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. He is currently on sabbatical writing a book, and had no involvement in the new poll.
___________________
Mind you, I am a professional every bit as qualified as these candidates....in fact as regards administration of which much of being a governor is about.....I am probably more qualified. So, making my campaign sound marginal right off the bat tells you there is a push to keep my platform silent.
To:
Federal Elections Commission
From:
Cindy Walsh
RE:
Violations of the election law requiring 501c3 organizations to invite all candidates to debates or forums as the only way to eliminate bias or showing opposition to another candidate.
What Does "Participating in a Political Campaign" Mean?
Organizations with 501(c)(3) status cannot participate in political campaigns.
What is a political campaign? In general, the IRS rule refers to campaigns between people who are running for offices in public elections. These can include: candidates running for president of the U.S.; candidates running for governor; candidates running for mayor; and also candidates for lower elected offices such as school board officials, city supervisors, and county trustees.
What is "participating?" Your organization cannot participate in a campaign, directly or indirectly, on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate. If your organization takes a stand in any campaign, supporting or opposing one or another candidate, this violates the prohibition.
University of Maryland College Park
Bowie State University
Morgan State University
Baltimore Education Coalition
Baltimore NAACP
WYPR
Maryland Public Television
Below you see a list of forums/debates that failed to invite my campaign and following these examples are the complaints my campaign is filing with Federal Elections Commission. At first, I only heard about some of these events afterwards and could not attempt to correct these violations and now, I am notifying coming events of my intent to participate and I am waiting for a response. I am including these events yet to happen because this is a systemic problem and these venues need to be approached this pattern of violations.
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‘The first televised debate in Maryland's Democratic primary for governor will be May 7, followed by a second debate on June 2, according to the stations that will broadcast them.
The first TV debate matching Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler and Del. Heather R. Mizeur is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 7 at the University of Maryland, College Park and will be broadcast on Washington's NBC affiliate. According to NBC4, "Meet the Press" host David Gregory will moderate'.
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Justin Schall, campaign manager for Brown, confirmed the plan and said the three candidates are still working out details. The Gansler and Mizeur campaigns declined to comment.
Maryland Public Television said Thursday it will host and air the second debate with the three Democratic contenders on June 2, a co-production with WBAL-TV’.
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Baltimore Education Coalition Forum: MD Gubernatorial Candidates on Education
03/07/14 Marc Steiner
March 6, 2014 – Segment 2
We listen back to the Non-Partisan Gubernatorial Forum on Education in Baltimore City, organized by the Baltimore Education Coalition, which I co-moderated with Sue Fothergill, Karen DeCamp, and Zuri Battle Wednesday night at City Springs Elementary/Middle School.
Democratic Gubernatorial candidates Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown, Attorney General Doug Gansler, and Delegate Heather Mizeur share their visions for education in Maryland.
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Democratic candidates woo NAACP crowd in Baltimore
Erin Cox The Baltimore Sun
6:00 a.m. EDT, April 18, 2014
During a forum hosted by the Baltimore City branch of the NAACP and a chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at the Forest Park Senior Center. The three top candidates vying for the Democratic nomination in the June 24 primary election spoke separately at the forum and did not interact.
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Democratic gubernatorial candidates clash on assessment of Maryland's economic policy needs
By NICK TABOR Associated Press
April 17, 2014 - 10:35 pm EDT
The Greater Baltimore Economic Forum arranged a panel of business and nonprofit leaders to question the candidates Thursday. They focused on plans to stimulate economic growth and make Maryland more attractive to businesses.
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2014 Maryland Gubernatorial Candidates Forum
Posted by Alana Williams , April 14, 2014 at 08:44 PM
The event is sponsored by Bowie High School NJROTC (Navy Junior ROTC), Bowie High School Student Government Association, the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce and Prince George’s County Social Innovation Fund.
The following candidates for governor have accepted the Alliance’s invitation to participate in the forum — The Honorable Anthony Brown, Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, The Honorable David Craig, Harford County Executive, The Honorable Douglas Gansler, Attorney General of Maryland, Mr. Charles Lollar, and The Honorable Heather Mizeur, Delegate, District 20, and The Honorable Ron George, Delegate, District 30.
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uppermarlboro.patch.com/groups/events/p/2014-maryland... Cached
The Prince George’s County Women’s Alliance is hosting a Gubernatorial Candidates Forum, Monday, April 28, 2014, beginning at 7:00 PM
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MY COMPLAINT TO THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION:
Above you see a list of events already past and a few to come. In every case my campaign was not included in the invitation list sent and therefor when these events indicate the candidates attending were the ones replying to an invitation…..they are covering the fact that not all candidates were invited. There is a huge problem with free and fair elections in Maryland. Baltimore and Prince George’s County are the worst offenders. My campaign has received plenty of invitations across Maryland but it is in large voting districts like these two counties where election violations are rampant. When a campaign cannot even get their name mentioned in these large venues you have deliberate attempts to steal an election. It is no coincidence that my platform embraces issues that are counter to policies presented by current politicians at state level. To silence the voice of a candidate because of the political issues they put forward is an assault to democracy and it taints the ability of the citizens of Maryland to know their candidates.
I cannot control private media outlets and their coverage, but 501c3 organizations are not allowed to select winners and losers.
‘If your organization takes a stand in any campaign, supporting or opposing one or another candidate, this violates the prohibition’.
Obviously, the exclusion of my campaign is a detriment to my viability in this election and this cannot be understood in any other light. The forums above have operated in this fashion for years and I had the Chair of Maryland Assembly Elections Committee Jon Cardin tell me that ‘this is how we do it’. I write extensively to public media outlets in Baltimore WYPR and WEAA to explain that they cannot keep having candidates on their programs and exclude others. My campaign has been completely excluded from all public media and as you see above, the Maryland Public Television event is excluding me as well. This has made Maryland elections crony and the citizens have reached a point of apathy in voting because none of the candidates given the spotlight speaks to their interests. This is why Baltimore has a 20% voter turnout and why this coming governor’s election sees 54% of democrats as undecided……I will project that number higher if the poll was actually performed correctly. That 54% undecided could very well be waiting to hear my platform!
I want to emphasize this is a systemic problem in these two counties……Prince George’s and Baltimore. In Baltimore it is driven by the city power structure that controls all media and events. I would also like to suggest that targeting candidates who run as labor and justice in cities and counties with the highest labor and justice problems is clearly designed to suppress free and fair elections.
Cindy Walsh for Governor of Maryland is requesting the Federal Election Commission investigate and correct this problem immediately because this primary season is in full swing and if my campaign is allowed to be sidelined we will be contesting the primary winner in court. This is a clear case of election violations and the systemic nature of the problem requires Federal intervention into Maryland State Election process.
I want to make one more point. When media in Maryland and these event organizers who discriminate in candidates who attend use the terms ‘top three democratic candidates’ over and again to describe Brown, Gansler, and Mizeur, you have statements that are misleading. Clearly, when a poll is taken with Brown receiving 25% of democratic support, Gansler and Mizeur around 10% of support-----you clearly do not have top candidates. I dare say even those voters would change if given alternatives. What Maryland media prefaces its claim to ‘top three democratic candidates’ is which candidate is receiving campaign funds. It has nothing to do with platform and voter support. This is not what elections are about. This misuse of ‘leading’ gives false impressions designed to taint the voting process. It is deliberate. The polls we have to endure take fewer than 2,000 representative voters out of 900,000 democratic voters to come to these percentages. No one knows how skewed these polls can be. We need an investigation of Maryland’s election process and my case in particular.
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