Dueling Democrats in a tight congressional race to represent Maryland’s Fourth District are clamoring to connect their campaigns to presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama.
Experts are predicting Maryland’s large numbers of suburban black voters, many of whom live in Prince George’s County, will contribute to an Obama victory in the state.
Opinions vary about whether a high turnout for Obama will bode well for the eight-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Al Wynn, who served with Obama in the Congressional Black Caucus, or whether voters driven by Obama’s “change” message will prefer challenger Donna Edwards.
Wynn endorsed Obama nearly a month ago.
He appeared for him on “Geraldo At Large” this weekend and at a rally in Annapolis last Wednesday. Wynn campaign manager Lori Sherwood said his support for Obama has nothing to do with politics.
“The congressman was a supporter of him long before he ran for president,” Sherwood said. “He feels Obama is in the best place to work to unify the country and create the shift that we need at the top.”
University of Maryland political science professor and African-American politics expert Ronald Walters said a large Obama turnout could backfire for Wynn.
“Like every place else, there is an excitement about this [presidential primary] race,” Walters said. “The expectation of change is pushing a lot of people to turn out.
“And a message of change means the incumbent may be in trouble there.”
Wynn challenger Donna Edwards, who came within 3,000 votes of unseating the congressman during the 2006 race, did not endorse Obama until Thursday afternoon.
“He’s against the corporate special interests, for an end to the war in Iraq and for real change to make a difference in the lives of ordinary people,” Edwards said. “I thought it was important for people to know before we go into the Tuesday primary that an Obama/Donna primary vote is a message for change not just for the district but for the country.”
Meanwhile, leaders of the National Organization for Women are encouraging past and present members to vote for both Clinton and Edwards Tuesday.
Terry O’Neill, president of NOW’s Maryland chapter, said of Edwards’ endorsement of Obama: “[Edwards] will be a fabulous, fabulous member of Congress — but even your friends are wrong some times.”
