Republican presidential nominee John McCain visits downtown Baltimore tonight for a major fundraiser at the elite Center Club in the Legg Mason tower. At a rally across the street Monday, Democratic bigwigs were laying out the not-so-welcome mat.
“We hope Senator McCain will take the time, not just to take money from the high rollers, but we hope he takes the time to listen to ordinary Marylanders,” Sen. Ben Cardin said.
Voters should ask McCain “why he?s more interested in Wall Street than in Main Street,” Cardin said.
Cardin decried McCain?s votes against children?s health insurance.
“Unfortunately, the working people of this state have borne the brunt of George Bush?s economic policies,” said Attorney General Doug Gansler. McCain “has the chutzpah to come across the street in our city,” which has been hurt so much by those policies.
“He said he wants to carry on the war in Iraq,” which has cost as much as $3 trillion, Gansler said, more than $10 billion a month, money that would have made a huge difference if spent in Baltimore.
“We simply cannot afford another four years of George Bush,” said Rep. Elijah Cummings. “This is a campaign for the soul of America.”
The Democratic officials were joined by union leaders and members holding signs that said: “Like the Bush economy? Hire McCain.”
The McCain fundraiser is being organized by former Gov. Robert Ehrlich, who is scheduled to make remarks, and his principal fundraiser, Dick Hug.
“We will have a full house,” Hug said.
Told of the Democrats? criticism of McCain, Hug laughed and said, “I liked the Bush economy until Democrats got control of Congress.”
The fundraiser is not open to local press, though one national reporter will be in the room, and McCain will be greeted at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport by several supporters, according to Gail Gitcho, a spokeswoman for the campaign.
