"At each of four campaign kickoff rallies that spanned the state, Sen. Edward J. Pipkin (Queen Anne's) opened by singing "God Bless America" with his three children. He then ripped into the record Mikulski has compiled during 10 years in Congress and three terms in the Senate, criticizing her for voting against President Bush's tax cut and for failing to protect water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.
"In the 27 years since she was elected, we have lost jobs, our education system has worsened and the Chesapeake Bay is dying," Pipkin said on the steps of the old brick courthouse in downtown Rockville, his third stop of the day. "The incumbent has had 27 years to look out for the interests of Maryland. But instead, she has voted for the status quo time and again."
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"In an interview, Pipkin, 46, conceded that he is "the underdog" in the race, which pits him against one of the most popular politicians in Maryland. In a statewide poll conducted in August by Gonzales Research and Marketing Strategies, Mikulski was more popular than Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R). Even among Republicans, less than a third said they would definitely vote against her. "
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For one thing, he's rich. A former investment banker who made millions on Wall Street before moving to a $1.9 million Kent Island estate a few years ago, Pipkin used nearly $600,000 of his own money last year to underwrite one of the most expensive state Senate races in Maryland history.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21395-2003Oct13.htmlMikulski will beat him comfortably next year. Unless she finds herself in a major scandal she will defeat him by a landslide margin. Only a murder conviction--and even then it would have to be someone important--would stop her re-election.
In 1998 she won every county except Garrett. She is one of Maryland's most popular politicians. I don't see Pipkin beating her.