By Matthew Mosk and Robert Barnes
Friday, September 8, 2006
On the fifth day before Maryland's party primaries, Democratic Senate candidates had their last face-to-face meeting, the Montgomery county executive candidates got in a spat about office space and Comptroller William Donald Schaefer started a television campaign promoting himself as "a name you can trust."
Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin wore a target yesterday during much of the debate between the leading Democratic Senate candidates, fending off accusations that he has been co-opted by moneyed special interests.
From the outset of the one-hour debate on Washington Post Radio, American University professor Allan J. Lichtman and Potomac businessman Josh Rales went after Cardin for taking more than $800,000 from political action committees, including those representing interests that came before the House committee on which he sits.
"These are people that have big investments in Ben Cardin that they don't want to write off," Rales said.
Cardin declared his support for public financing of campaigns and invoked his legislative record, which, he said, shows he has "taken on" drug companies, oil firms and other corporate interests.
"I can tell you this," he said, briefly raising his voice. "Judge me on my record."
Host Mark Plotkin put Cardin on the defensive repeatedly. Only moments after the 10-term congressman took his seat, Plotkin opened the debate by asking Cardin whether he lacked passion and was "the perpetuation of the status quo."
Cardin, who has been the front-runner for most of the campaign's 18 months, stuck to his talking points -- namely, that he "stood up to the president" when voting against the Iraq war and that he has a solid record of accomplishment. Former congressman and NAACP president Kweisi Mfume has said Cardin would be a solid vote in the Senate for Democrats but not a stirring voice for progressive causes. Yesterday, Cardin co-opted Mfume's line from a previous debate.
"It's not only your vote but your voice, and my voice has been on behalf of the working families and typical families of our community," Cardin said.
Mfume's demeanor was notable. Held up in a major traffic jam on the Capital Beltway, Mfume did most of the debate by phone, passing up several chances to criticize Cardin, his main opponent for their party's nomination, and calling him a friend.
Silverman Seeks Investigation Into Leggett Rent DealThe accusations keep flying in the increasingly bitter race between the two leading Democrats vying to become Montgomery county executive.
Council member Steven A. Silverman 's campaign manager, Judy Jablow , sent a letter this week to the Maryland State Board of Elections asking for an investigation of his opponent's campaign finance filing.
Silverman (At Large) accuses Isiah "Ike" Leggett of getting a discount on the rent he pays for his Silver Spring office and not reporting it to the election board as an in-kind contribution. Leggett, a former County Council member, rents the space from Kramer Enterprises, founded by former county executive Sidney Kramer . His daughter, state Sen. Rona E. Kramer (D-Montgomery), manages the property. Both have endorsed Leggett.
Rona Kramer acknowledged that she charges Leggett less than the market rate. But she said it is common practice to charge less for a temporary rental, which does not require the usual carpeting and other repairs or a broker's commission. "It's space that would otherwise be sitting vacant and is now bringing in $2,000," she said.
Leggett called Silverman's accusation "tacky," saying, "I think he's just trying to find something to elevate his campaign and keep his name out in the media."
Silverman did not back down. "He went to a developer who's endorsed him and got a sweetheart deal," he said.
Jared DeMarinis , director of candidacy and campaign finance at the elections board, said he has received Silverman's complaint but has not reviewed it. "Any discounted rate would be considered an in-kind contribution if not done in the normal course of business," he said.
Schaefer Puts His Name on the Line in New TV AdSchaefer started a statewide television campaign, minus the apologies he made on a recent radio ad. Instead, photos show Schaefer as a Baltimore City Council member, mayor and governor and conclude with him signing checks at a desk in his darkened comptroller's office.
"You work hard for your money. We as public servants should work just as hard to look after that money," Schaefer, 84, says in the ad. "That's why, when I sign every check from the state of Maryland, I sign with the name William Donald Schaefer, a name you can trust."
Schaefer spokesman Laslo Boyd said the ad will run through Tuesday in Baltimore and on cable systems in Montgomery and Prince George's counties.
Schaefer's comments about Democratic opponent Janet S. Owens 's appearance -- he said the Anne Arundel County executive looked like Mother Hubbard, among other insults -- seem to have been the last straw for some female activists, who have started an e-mail chain letter to try to defeat him.
Karen White , campaign manager for former governor Parris N. Glendening (D) and now national political director of Emily's List, which raises money for female candidates, is one of four women who signed the letter and set up an e-mail account, schaefermustgo@yahoo.com . It calls Schaefer a "sexist dinosaur."
"Schaefer's crude insults, though targeted at one woman, are an offense to all women," the letter says.
The letter doesn't state a preference for Owens or Montgomery County Del. Peter Franchot , the other Democrat in the race.
Staff writer Nancy Trejos contributed to this report.
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