Lt. Gov. Michael Steele picked up an endorsement Thursday from a group of bipartisan black ministers who represented what could be a critical voting bloc for the Republican?s U.S. Senate bid.
“There is a moral, biblical agenda we believe forms our endorsement of him,” said Bishop Harry Jackson, founder of the High Impact Leadership Coalition and pastor of Hope Christian Church in Lanham.
Jackson, who said he was a registered Democrat, said the coalition is comprised of about 60,000 church members in PrinceGeorge?s County and the neighboring area.
Angel Nunez, pastor of BiLingual Christian Church in Baltimore City who said he was a registered Democrat, said he “will vote for the man or woman who will support my values.”
The pastors said their endorsements were personal and not reflective of their church congregations.
Steele took the opportunity to roll out his “Marshall Plan,” named after the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. The list of initiatives he pledged to support in the Senate included anti-poverty legislation, full funding for the federal No Child Left Behind law, more money for Pell grants and historically black colleges and universities, more money to combat drug addiction and HIV/AIDS, and support for small businesses struggling to pay for health insurance for their employees. Cardin has expressed support for many of the same issues.
Steele was endorsed Monday by another group of prominent black political leaders, including former Prince George?s County Executive Wayne Curry and five Democratic members of the County Council.
A Baltimore Sun poll published Thursday put Steele behind Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Cardin by only six points, compared to the double-digit deficit measured a month ago.
Democratic leaders have said the race between Cardin and Steele may hinge on the turnout of black voters.
Part of the Baltimore Examiner’s 2006 Election Coverage
