The Maryland comptroller this week made headlines when he called his female challenger “fat.”
Before that, a Maryland congressman?s campaign workers were accused of beating up his opponent?s volunteers over the placement of yard signs.
All the while, there have been extremely competitive races for open U.S. Senate and House seats.
Tuesday?s Democratic primary races have the appearance of a made-for-television drama, meaning that voters should turn out in high numbers, political experts surveyed by The Examiner said Friday.
“I?m not sure it will break all-time records for primary elections,” said Peter Shapiro, a senior fellow at the University of Maryland College Park?s Academy of Leadership. But it?s certainly going to be hot one.”
Thomas Schaller, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, assistant professor of political science, said the Tuesday primary will be the highest turnout in a “long, long time.”
The statewide turnout of registered voters in the 2002 primary was 30.8 percent, up from 28.7 percent in 1998. Competitive races between U.S. Senate candidates Kweisi Mfume and Benjamin Cardin and U.S. Congressional 3rd District candidates Paula Hollinger, Peter Beilenson and John Sarbanes should contribute to high turnout, Schaller said.
But an alleged beating by campaign workers for 4th Congressional District U.S. Rep. Albert Wynn on a member of challenger Donna Edwards? campaign; and Comptroller William Donald Schaefer?s remarks about opponent Janet Owens will motivate more voters to come out the polls, Schaller said.
“I think Donna Edwards in Prince George?s County is a legitimate challenger,” Schaller said.
“The Wynn episode with the roughing up of the campaign volunteer will have an impact. Then you have the Mfume, Cardin senate race. And, of course, you have Donald Schaefer and his antics.”
Schaller and other experts said they predicted women to vote in high numbers because of Schaefer?s comments about Owens and his apparent leering at a 24-year-old gubernatorial aide, whom he told to “walk again” in front of him.
“I don?t think Janet Owens could have done anything to help her campaign more than the comments Schaefer made,” Shapiro said.
Herb Smith, McDaniel College political science professor, said he “wouldn?t be surprised” to see 35 percent of voters statewide turnout for this selection. Towson University professor Richard Vatz echoed that sentiment.
“It?s clear historically the more contentious issues you have, the higher the turnout you have,” he said.
“The comptroller?s race has become one of the most interesting races you can ask for. This drama with Schaefer and Owens is really going to generate a lot of voting. This thing is one of the most scintillating rhetorical clashes I?ve seen in a long time.”
AT A GLANCE
The percent of registered voters who participated in primary elections during the last three gubernatorial races.
County (1994/1998/2002)
» Anne Arundel (41.4/ 33.2/ 27.8)
» Baltimore City (32.5/29.9/36.6)
» Baltimore County (43.5/28/32.5)
» Carroll (42.2/30.6/33.1)
» Harford (42.9/34.7/30.1)
» Howard (41.8/26.4/25.6)
» Maryland (39.6/28.7/30.8)
Source: Maryland State Board of Elections
