Does a Republican governor stand a chance in MD?
Former Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich, who was the only Republican governor to lose his seat to a Democrat in 2006, wants his old job back. He's been on the campaign trail in deep-blue Maryland for months and he thinks that he stands a shot at unseating the Democrat, Gov. Martin O'Malley, come November. This Tuesday, Ehrlich came one step closer to that goal by winning Maryland's Republican primary.
Will Maryland go the way of New Jersey and Virginia? Though Maryland is deeply democratic, voters in the state are getting fed up with its tax and spend policies, which are driving businesses and jobs away from Maryland and into neighboring Virginia and Delaware. In a year when voters are concerned more than ever with fiscal issues, Ehrlich may stand a fighting chance.
RealClearPolitics is calling the race a toss up and O'Malley is currently leading Ehrlich by 3 points in the polls, which is good news for Ehrlich, who has the edge with independents.
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May '10
Re: Does a Republican governor stand a chance in MD?
Well, he was governor before, and this is a really good year, especially compared to the 2006 thumpin. The incumbent is in the mid-forties, so obviously not overwhelmingly popular. Sure he can.
Not sure he'll be Chris Christie, but, by God, he'll defend Walmart.
May '10
Re: Does a Republican governor stand a chance in MD?
He was the Governor from 2002-2006, so it's not been that long. He's a fairly moderate guy who'll face a hostile legislature, so there's a very short limit to what he'll be able to get done. Maryland is a long way from a Christie-like figure, I'm afraid.
May '10
Re: Does a Republican governor stand a chance in MD?
I'm going to have to put a check in the "no" column. The only chance he's got is to get Montgomery County and that's a long shot. He's got no chance in Prince George's County. There wasn't a single Republican in the primary county election in PG. Those are the two most populated counties. I'd also appreciate it if you'd clarify your statement, Emily, "...which are driving businesses and jobs away from Maryland and into neighboring Virginia and Delaware," because there are lots of jobs leaving VA, and even DC, and coming to MD. The fed gov't is closing a lot of office spaces in less securable areas like Crystal City and moving it to more secure places like Ft. Meade. Not mention the job increases expected at the NSA. Oh, and Walter Reed is closing and moving to the NNMC in Bethesda. Lots of construction and federal dollars being spent over there. So, MD is going to be suckling at the federal gov't bosom for some time. Whatever jobs and businesses are leaving MD in the private sector, will likely be compensated for by the fed. gov't.
Edited on Sep 16, 2010 at 2:55pmRe: Does a Republican governor stand a chance in MD?
That's interesting, Karen -- it makes sense that more public sector jobs are coming to Maryland.
I think the scene is more grim for private sector jobs. Thousands of private sector jobs, which I bet are more sensitive to a bad business climate, have shut down or left Maryland in the past few years--and O'Malley passed the largest tax increase in Maryland's history in 2007. Maryland has the fourth highest tax burden in the country and the state ranks 45th in business tax climate.
When defense giant Northrop Grumman was looking to relocate its headquarters from California to the Washington area, it overlooked Maryland for Virginia. The corporation took over $30 million in tax revenue and untold numbers of jobs with it. There were also a few cases, though I can't remember the particulars, of movie shootings/sets that ultimately chose to relocate to Delaware than shoot in Maryland because of tax incentives.
Maybe you're right and it's the private sector jobs that are leaving Maryland and being replaced by public sector ones. But I'm not sure that that's anything to boast about.
May '10
Re: Does a Republican governor stand a chance in MD?
Emily, you'll hear no boasting from me! I live in MD, PG specifically, and my family has suffered considerably from O'Malley's tax hike, and a crook has been elected as our County Executive in the recent primary. I'm not surprised Northrop located to VA, since a lot of gov't contractors are setting up in the burbs. And the VA burbs are more plentiful and attractive. But the federal gov't and gov't contractor jobs (like Northrop, Lockheed, Deloitte, etc) have brought a lot more people and money to MD, so I don't know if that many private businesses have suffered. People might work in VA and DC, but an awful lot live in MD. My family is one of many examples of this. A lot of federal agencies migrating to MD means a lot of private sector jobs, like construction, food service, restaurants, etc. I think the problem for Ehrlich and the GOP is trying to convince folks that a smaller gov't is better, when so many residents are benefiting from its expansion.
Edited on Sep 16, 2010 at 11:24am