D.C., Maryland and Virginia Politics

What is the latest local political news? Who will emerge as the leading candidate in the D.C. mayor's race? What Virginia and Maryland races are heating up?

WTOP political commentator Mark Plotkin was online Thursday, August 10, at 2 p.m. ET to discuss local politics and whatever else is on your mind.

The transcript follows.

Plotkin joined WTOP after 10 years as a political analyst for WAMU radio. He has been active in D.C. and national politics since attending George Washington University in the late '60s.

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College Park, Md.: The front page article on Sunday on Prince George's executive Jack Johnson giving contracts and jobs to his unqualified friends was shocking and disgusting. The Tuesday editorial was hard hitting as well. His opponent, Rushern Baker appears capable, earnest, hard working. The guy has star written all over him. I haven't seen any polls. Is Baker getting any traction? If not, why?

Mark Plotkin: Johnson I've been told just goes to every function that takes place in Prince Georges County. He's been doing this for years. Baker is all the things you describe him as but he has an uphill battle because Johnson is the incumbent and works at it. Four years ago in a 5 person race, with a strong Washington Post endorsement he finished a distant fourth. Now the anti Johnson vote will not be split up and that should benefit him. We are having a debate on Washington Post Radio on Tuesday, September 5. Baker has said yes and I still have not heard from Johnson. At this point Johnson is definitely the favorite, even with the Post article and Baker, I'm sure, thinks the article did him some good.

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Catonsville, Md.: Saw a Lichtman billboard on 95 featuring him with Hillary Clinton. Would he need her permission to use her image?

Mark Plotkin: That's an interesting question. I'm sure she would have something to say about that. I'll call Lichtman and ask him about it. By the way Josh Rales is starting a bus trip hoping to create some excitement and visibility for his campaign. Cardin is got to be worries about Rales cutting into his vote and I wonder if he will move up his TV buy in the Washington area. You should know that on Thursday, September 7 at 10 am, we will have a U.S. Senate debate with Rales, Lichtman, Mfume, and Cardin. News Channel 8 will televise it.

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Columbia, Md.: Do you see Ehrlich's coziness to Bush hurting him in any way this fall? Where does he stand in most polls now?

Mark Plotkin: You will not see George Bush in the state of Maryland, standing next to the governor. The governor on "The Politics Program" on Washington Post Radio lamely said "of course the President is always invited to Maryland." Translation please stay out. The most recent Post poll showed Ehrlich narrowing the O'Malley lead to about 6 points. I still think O'Malley is in good shape and Ehrlich knows this. The state is nearly two to one democratic in registration and the governor admitted that the race will probably be decided in Baltimore County, where he did very well against Kathleen Kennedy Townshend. Also watch Harford and Howard Counties, I think they are bellweathers.

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Ward 4 Resident for Johns: Mark--The Current "strongly endorses Marie Johns for Mayor!" What do you make of this? I want to vote for Johns but she's gotta break out of those single digits. Might this do the trick?

Mark Plotkin: Marie Johns is doing what candidates should do when they are mired in the middle. You're right she's in third with about 8 percent according to the Washington Post poll. Her debate with Fenty on Saturday morning should get some press attention. It's my opinion that she draws votes away from Linda Cropp. By the way Cropp is doing the right thing by pointing out differences between her and Fenty on the crime issue. Some would say that she has decided to go negative, I don't care what the terminology is, she can't afford to let Fenty run away with this race. It will be interesting to see how Fenty reacts and if he can hold what seems at least now to be a substantial lead.

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Washington, D.C.: Mark, great job last week with the WashPost Radio forum with Ward 3 candidates. Is the "Full Time" (Rice, Brooks) vs. "Part Time" (Cheh, Strauss) councilmember issue something that can bring out differences in this race, and who are your 2-3 front-runners?

Mark Plotkin: QUESTION # 20

Let me correct something right away. I Mark Plotkin was not the questioner on Washington Post Radio. The questioner was the esteemed and able (are you reading this Segraves?) colleague Mark Segraves. He expertly handled all the debates on Washington Post Radio. The Northwest Current is responsible for this grievous error. Segraves and I are writing a letter to correct this historic misidentification.

So that takes care of that. Last week I said the front runners were Cheh, who just got the endorsement of the Northwest Current. Bill Rice, Robert Gordon, Paul Strauss, but the Post endorsement will probably be critical here. But there's plenty of time before September 12 for someone to catch fire.

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Manassas, Va.: In your opinion what Virginia seats are most likely to change parties? Why?

Mark Plotkin:

None of the Virginia legislators are up but there are two competitive House races, two incumbents, Frank Wolf and Tom Davis are facing serious challenges. Of course George Allen is facing Jim Webb, Webb needs to raise money, a lot of money. Maybe Virginia is not as Republican as people think. The demographics in Northern Virginia definitely are showing this. Just look at Tim Kaine's victory for governor.

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When Linda Cropp Calls: So I've been getting calls from an Illinois area code--815--that caller ID says is Novo. Having no idea what it was I didn't answer, but finally last night I did. Turns out it's Linda Cropp's get-out-the-vote phone bank. The caller, obviously scripted, told me that Linda Cropp had the best plan for fighting crime in D.C.. I interrupted the caller to ask what the plan was. After a pause she said, It's the plan for fighting crime in D.C. Duh. I asked for specifics, which she could not provide. I thought it was really pathetic that A-- she's not using local campaign services, of which there are many, and B-- the people she uses aren't trained in even basic policy information. I was thinking of voting for Cropp, but her GOTV call made me think otherwise.

Mark Plotkin: Thanks for the tip. I'll ask the Cropp campaign about that. What campaigns do is hire companies wherever they are located to place these calls and ask these questions. The people who are calling you are not volunteers in DC but employees on probably an hourly basis of a campaign polling company. I don't know if Fenty is doing the same thing or any of the other campaigns but they don't want to get caught hiring out of state people. It's embarrassing and they just take the heat for it. It's just a way of life for political campaigns. They can't recruit enough volunteers to do this repetitive work.

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Bethesda, Md.: Why is Josh Rales running for the Senate as a Democrat? As of the 2004 he gave lots of money, the maximum I believe, to George Bush and other Republican candidates. Has he explained why he is now a Democrat?

Mark Plotkin: Rales admit he was a Republican and gave to Republican candidates. He calls himself a fiscal conservative and a social moderate. He has decided to spend his own money to et his ideas out and get people to know his name. You have to admire his guts and just going out there and making a pitch. I found him to be bright, sincere, and somebody with ideas. It's just tough to win a U.S. Senate seat when you're facing two well known names like Mfume and Cardin, who have a following and have been in Democratic politics for decades but to use the tired, old cliche lightning might strike.

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Richmond, Va.: In light of the Lieberman win, will the Webb campaign be forced to talk about Iraq more? And if yes, how will it play in "conservative-except-northern-Virignia" regions? In other words, will there need to be a fabulous strategy that can walk the line on both markets, and what would that be?

Mark Plotkin: Webb I'm sure is glad that Lieberman was beaten on Iraq. He would not say this publicly but Iraq is his issue and he definitely wants to highlight the difference between him and George Allen. I remind you Virginia is not Connecticut. But I think you're going to see Webb talking about Iraq more and more. He needs Lamont's money or his donors. Maybe the bloggers will take up Webb as their cause now that Lamont has been nominated.

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Chevy Chase DC: Here's a question that I hope won't peg me as the naif of the month but I'd like to hear your views: When will some politician(s) honestly say, when accused of being a 'flip-flopper', "You know what? I changed my mind--that's part of personal growth through life, aka education". Or some variation on that theme. I come from the 1 percent of the D.C. population that has nothing whatever to do with law or politics for a living (I'm a scientist and surgical pathologist), and in my line of work, I change my mind frequently as more data become available. So do my colleagues. Would you want a surgeon who bragged that s/he was operating the way s/he did 20 years ago?

I would dearly love to hear one of our elected leaders admit the same thing, and even celebrate it. Far more terrifying to me is someone like Ronald Reagan, who bragged that after 8 years as president, he held exactly the same opinions as the day he took office. To me, this reveals a stunning lack of intellectual curiosity, which is (or should be) required for an effective leader. Yet one hears variations on the same, all down the line. Any hope of this changing?

Mark Plotkin:

I've always felt that the greatest asset for a candidate is authenticity. If the public senses that you are sincere and genuine and truthful you get points. Most candidates are not secure enough to let in the public on who they really are. They're managed by handlers or consultants who are weary of being too honest and autobiographical. They're always playing the angles. They're worried that they'll alienate some facet of the electorate and its better to be purposely murky. Your Reagan remark is intriguing, he got points for being focused on just a few issues and being ideologically consistent. I always though the statement you refereed to was not an affirmation of principle, but an illustration of his limitations. But you pose an existential question which most candidates have little time for and don't bother thinking about.

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Washington, D.C.: Segraves was great on the council debates. Will there be any debates for school board or shadow reps, why don't you guys team up?

Mark Plotkin: Segraves, who is getting over exposed and reads every word I say. I finally refer to him as my Jimmy Olson, who Segraves rankles at this. Look if the shoe fits .We are teaming up to do the chairman's debate on Tuesday August 29 at 10 am on Washington Post Radio and the debate on Thursday, August 31 between Norton and Andy Miscuk. In fact they will both be on tomorrow on the Politics Program on 107.7 FM, 1500 AM. I think Miscuk is going to do better than people expect

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Washington, D.C.: What's the best case scenario for Johns at the Johns-Fenty debate this Saturday? Can she steal votes from him? Some are saying she is a Fenty alternative not a Cropp alternative.

Mark Plotkin: Before I answer this question you should know that the Washington Times printed an ad, which took up half a page on A14 that is all wrong. They titled it "The Final Debate: Who will be the Next Mayor?" The Final debate will be done on Friday September 8, four days before the September 12 primary. At GW the Jack Morton Auditorium 801 21st St. NW at 10 am, News Channel 8 will be covering it live and Washington Post Radio will be airing it. All of the candidates have accepted. I don't know where the Washington Times got this erroneous information.

The debate is Saturday 9 am in Ward 8. I still think Johns takes votes from Cropp but her real purpose is to jump start her campaign and get some buzz. Some are surprised Fenty accepted her dare to debate but he has tried to minimize its importance by agreeing to do it at such an unusual time. Johns is doing it for press coverage and I'm sure she'll be very feisty. She's got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Last point, I will be away for the next two Tuesdays. I'm sure this will be a relief for some or maybe many but I'll be back same place on Tuesday August 29. Thanks for all your questions and comments and see you soon.

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