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O'Malley Theme: Duncan Who?
Martin O'Malley, left, promoted his environmental stance in a visit to state-owned land that Gov. Robert Ehrlich weighed selling. With him are Sen. Roy P. Dyson, center, Robert Jarboe and Linda Vallandingham.
(By Nikki Kahn -- The Washington Post)
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While on the campaign trail, O'Malley said, Duncan's name "rarely comes up, and people rarely ask me about the primary."
During two recent appearances in Prince George's County, in fact, Duncan's name surfaced only once.
At a community meeting, O'Malley was asked about his position on the legalization of slot-machine gambling. He volunteered that it fell between that of Duncan, who opposes slots, and that of Ehrlich, who has made the gambling expansion a top priority. O'Malley said he supports allowing a limited number of slot machines, at racetracks only.
The rest of O'Malley's remarks focused on his background, his work in Baltimore, his vision for the state -- and Ehrlich's perceived shortcomings.
"Sad to say, for the last few years, the only times we're able to make progress," O'Malley said, "is when we muster a supermajority to overcome the governor's veto."
Duncan, by contrast, does not hesitate to take shots at O'Malley, particularly when he is campaigning in the expansive Baltimore media market, where he has made headlines in recent months by inserting himself into debates on crime and the schools.
The contrasting styles of the two Democrats was also evident last week as they separately put forward plans to deal with Maryland's sharp increase in electric rates.
Duncan knocked Ehrlich for the problem, then added: "And I know that Martin O'Malley doesn't want to take on the energy giants."
O'Malley unveiled his plan in a working-class neighborhood in Baltimore County -- a key general-election battleground -- and made no mention of Duncan. All of his firepower was directed at Ehrlich and regulators appointed by the governor.
"A candidate wants to project inevitability but not look like they're taking anything for granted. That's very difficult to juggle," said Thomas F. Schaller, a political science professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
Schaller, who is active in Democratic politics and supports O'Malley, said he believed that the mayor was doing the right thing, at least for now.
"Engaging Duncan just elevates him," Schaller said. "Until or unless Duncan is within 5, 6, 7 points of O'Malley in the polls, it makes sense for O'Malley to run a general-election strategy."
