The “trash” talk in the statewide campaigns shifted into high gear this week, with Republican Senate nominee Michael Steele unveiling another funky TV ad, this one featuring four shiny metal trash cans.
“You smell it? The trash from my opponent? Time to take it out,” says Steele as he slams down the lid. He says “Ben Cardin?s team” hacked into his credit report and stole his Social Security number. The crime was committed last year by a staff member of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, not Cardin.
“The personal smears? You know the type,” he says vaguely, apparently referring to racial remarks by a staffer Cardin promptly fired. But what really irks Steele is Cardin saying, “I?m in the president?s hip pocket.”
No way, says Steele, “I think for myself.” Never mind the White House fundraising help.
Cardin Beats Clinton
Cardin is looking forward to President Bill Clinton coming to the state to raise money for the party in the next few weeks. “I?ve always enjoyed being with President Clinton,” Cardin said last week, recalling the time he beat Clinton at golf. Really?
“I have the card with score” signed by Clinton to prove it, Cardin insisted, admitting he?s a real duffer on the course. Turns out the generous president gave Cardin 18 strokes, one per hole. Cardin him beat by two. Clinton gave him a sleeve of golf balls with the presidential seal, a memento Cardin keeps at home.
Schaefer Gives the Cake
A mellower-than-usual William Donald Schaefer gave Ehrlich a carrot cake as a peace offering at the Board of Public Works meeting Wednesday. He told reporters afterward, “I hope they won?t get into a dirt contest” in the governor?s race. “I don?t think the one who is going to win is the mud-thrower.”
A little late for that advice.
“Erhlich has been a pretty good governor,” Schaefer went on. “O’Malley has been a pretty good mayor.”
Say what?
“If he keeps his mind on being governor” ? and not running for the White House ? “he’ll be fine,” Schaefer said.
This the same guy who has made little effort to hide his contempt for the mayor? Ask him again in the afternoon, quipped an Ehrlich aide. Or five minutes later, joked an old State House media hound.
Or maybe after he gets a look at the poster outside the cafeteria of Legislative Service Building in Annapolis. On it, the comptroller touts the new electronic payroll stubs, but for days now, the photo of Schaefer has been holding an altered sign saying: “Homeless, Will Work for Food.”
Ehrlich Musings
The jockish governor does not typically quote any intellectuals, even when talking to a university class. On Tuesday, as he has for 12 years, Ehrlich spoke to Prof. Rick Vatz?s “political persuasion” class in Towson. The gov?s well-honed talk about why he relies on the broadcast media to make his case to constituents included a few asides about his personal philosophy.
“If you?re not an optimist, [politics] is probably not your profession,” he said. Optimists want to get things done, and “are generally more successful in life.”
In communicating, especially on “the important issues in life,” “blunt works,” Ehrlich says. But not on how your girlfriend looks.
“When your opponent hates you, that is beautiful,” he declared. “They spend a lot of time on that,” wasting precious energy. You won?t find that in Aquinas.
Len Lazarick is the state house bureau chief of The Examiner, he can be reached at [email protected]
