A June 23 Metro article incorrectly reported the reason an Associated Press dispatch did not reflect a caveat in a speech by Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D). In his speech, Duncan said he wants to be governor but said he was not ready to announce. The caveat was not mentioned in a Cumberland Times-News story, upon which the AP item was based.
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Blossoming Gubernatorial Campaigns, in All but Name
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For now, O'Malley tells people he is "laying the groundwork" for a possible gubernatorial bid, even as he held a lavish fundraiser Monday where more than 1,000 people sipped beer and wine and nibbled on hors d'oeuvres. O'Malley told the crowd of "a new battle" and of shortcomings in the state's schools, environment and economy.
But at no point did the word "governor" cross his lips. A huge green banner that hung behind him proclaimed only "O'Malley."
Peter Hamm, a political communications specialist who worked on the campaign of Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, said O'Malley and Duncan may have calculated that a formal announcement coming too early could come off as overeager.
"They don't want voters to think they're off looking for a new job, instead of staying focused on the one they got elected to do," Hamm said.
The contrivance of a prenatal campaign is not unique to Maryland, nor to this campaign. Those running for Congress and the presidency often follow the same tortured formula. Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele (R) recently held a conference call with reporters to announce his "exploratory" bid for U.S. Senate, but sounded very much like a full-fledged candidate during his remarks.
In last year's presidential contest, several of the major Democratic candidates set up campaign committees early on, ramped up fundraising and hired staff all over the country. But they did not "announce" their candidacies until later.
The difference is that those candidates are bound by guidelines spelling out what kind of activities are allowable while "testing the waters." Those still exploring are not supposed to refer to themselves as candidates -- "Steele in 2006" signs would be considered out of bounds, for example -- or raise more money than is "reasonably" necessary to determine whether they should run.
O'Malley and Duncan are bound by no such restriction. But they remain cautious just the same. At a recent event in Prince George's County, Duncan repeated the line that he "wants to be your next governor." Then he quickly added his hedge, reminding the crowd, "That's not a formal announcement."
Staff researcher Bobbye Pratt contributed to this report.
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