Dem candidate for MD gov calls opponent "George Bush mini-me of Maryland"

[DeepModem Mom]

WP,pg1: O'Malley, Cardin Hope To Link Rivals to Bush
Republicans Say Tactic Won't Work
By Matthew Mosk and John Wagner
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, September 17, 2006; Page A01


Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, left, often refers to Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. as "the George Bush Mini-Me of Maryland." The candidates are shown with moderator Joseph DeMattos, center, during a debate Thursday. (By Bill O'leary -- The Washington Post)

The campaigns are for high political office in Maryland, but the Democratic candidates' toughest attacks are focused on a man from Texas: George W. Bush.

Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, who is challenging incumbent Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., calls his opponent "the George Bush Mini-Me of Maryland," and he has plastered the same photo on three recent campaign mailers. It shows Ehrlich and the president arm in arm.

Benjamin L. Cardin (D), the 10-term congressman from Baltimore who is taking on Republican Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele in the race for an open U.S. Senate seat, mentions his opponent on the stump. But he saves a battery of attacks for Bush and urges voters to elect Cardin because "George Bush is leading this nation in the wrong direction."

The Democratic effort to nationalize the two high-profile Maryland campaigns is unmistakable, the latest sign that party leaders believe anger at the president might be the decisive emotion that drives voters to the polls in November.

Republicans, however, say it won't sell....Republicans aren't countering by embracing Bush, though -- Steele and Ehrlich skipped the president's recent Labor Day visit to Maryland. Instead, they have been running campaigns that never mention their party affiliation, casting themselves as party-neutral moderates....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/16/AR2006091600859.html

[bluerum]

1. Every republican in the country should be painted as a * lover.

on edit: Every republican running for office that has ever been a vocal supporter of * or quiet supporter of * should be reminded on a daily basis where that support has led the country.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Pictures sure help, too. Anything to tie the candidate to *W*

[sendero]

3. Exactly...

.. accuse them and make THEM defensively distance themselves. Because I don't care WHAT the polls say - this country has had it up to here with George Bush. And you can take that to the voting booth.

[AspenRose]

8. I agree

Every Dem running should heed that advice....hang that albatross that is the Bush Administration around the neck of every Republican candidate....without mercy and without apology.

[mcg]

4. "EHRLICH LOVES BUSH" poster

[Riddler]

5. The Democratic strategy, nationwide, should be to link any Repuke

candidate with buubble boy. It worked effectively when the repukes took congress by trying to invoke the names Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton to every Democratic candidate from county commissioner to US Senator. We need to do the same and not only link every Repuke nationwide to Bubble Boy, but start saying things like "Anne Coulter speaks for the Republicans". Let's use their own tactics against the scumbags.

[mcg]

6. "EHRLICH LOVES BUSH" poster - new link

http://community.webshots.com/photo/2363165490097081303aGzymy>

[Stinky The Clown]

7. Cardin needs to also be pointing to Steele's deep ties to Rove

(edit to add links)

Rove's been advising Steele for a while now.

Steele Fundraiser Draws Rove, Democratic Attacks

Karl Rove: Michael Steele's New Best Friend

Rove's role in fundraiser for Steele sparks debate

[mcg]

10. Steele & Bush at youtube

from of a search on 'Steele Bush' at youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Steele+Bush&search=Search

"The Real Steele"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RBzPBsv7NA

Bush supports Steele:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWDKk75JYHU
"Bush also praised Steele for his commitment to the war in Iraq."

[mcg]

11. The real Steele

http://www.therealsteele.com/

Steele: "I consider myself a radical Republican"

http://www.oliverwillis.com/michael_steele/index.html

Pictures of Steele with Bush:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/2544460610097081303BrGECe

[AnnieBW]

9. Yeah, Baby!

That's my next governor, Martin O'Malley! :toast:

[FrenchieCat]

12. that's very funny!