| Page 2 of 2 < |
Duncan Has Completed Ticket, Allies Say
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
O'Malley, who is leading in polls, announced his selection of Del. Anthony G. Brown (D-Prince George's) in December, and Brown has been campaigning aggressively in the Washington area and other parts of the state.
Glendening, Simms's former boss, said Duncan's choice amounts to a "checkmate."
"This is a good choice, certainly equal to that of O'Malley's," said Glendening, who said he is neutral in the race. "In both cases, these are two very, very good candidates. . . . They are exceptional individuals. They are both caring and very well connected to the community, and I think each of them will serve their principals very, very well."
Glendening credited Simms for serving in two "tough, tough" Cabinet agencies. Simms had served from 1987 to 1995 as state's attorney, and during much of that time Baltimore experienced more than 300 homicides a year, a figure that has dropped under O'Malley. That, some analysts said, could make it more difficult for Duncan to attack O'Malley on crime.
During the first part of the year, speculation about Duncan's pick focused heavily on Sen. Gwendolyn T. Britt (D-Prince George's). Instead, Duncan turned to Baltimore, where O'Malley is far better known and polls show that Duncan trails.
Schmoke, an early Duncan supporter, said Simms "knows the politics of the Baltimore region well, but I also think he's going to help [Duncan] throughout the state ."
Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Prince George's) said Duncan's decision to go to Baltimore "doesn't necessarily help him in Prince George's." But Currie, who is close to Brown, said Duncan's fate in a neighboring county is more likely to rise or fall on Duncan's reputation.
U.S. Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-Md.), a Duncan ally from Prince George's, said Duncan was smart to reach out to Baltimore.
"It brings together the Washington suburbs and Baltimore City, so I think it is an ideal selection," Wynn said, adding that the choice should silence critics. "It reestablishes the strength of Duncan's campaign, that he can get a top quality candidate."
