O'Malley eyeing Del. and Iraq War Veteran Anthony G. Brown as running mate

[nickshepDEM]

O'Malley set to pick Brown as running mate

Looking to solidify his bid for governor, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley is in negotiations with Del. Anthony G. Brown, an African-American lawyer who served in Iraq, about becoming his running mate, a source close to the Prince George's County Democrat confirmed yesterday.

If selected, Brown, 44, would bring geographic balance to the ticket and help the mayor tap into the African-American community in vote-rich Prince George's.

Gimpel called Brown a solid choice. "I think there are two things: a racial dimension, a connection that Martin O'Malley may need to African-American voters; and then there's also the region, the connection that Martin O'Malley needs to people in the Washington metropolitan area," Gimpel said. "I think Brown helps on both scores."

Landing Brown would be a major boost to O'Malleys campaign.

Brown viewed as rising star in democratic politics




Brown is viewed by many political observers as a rising star in the party. A lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, Brown was awarded a Bronze Star for meritorious service in Iraq. When he returned in June after a nine-month stint in the Middle East, where he served as a senior consultant to the Iraqi transitional government's Ministry of Displacement and Migration, his colleagues toasted him at a "Welcome Back from Iraq" block party.

Since then, Brown has made no secret of his interest in higher office. He has had his eye on a number of jobs, including the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes, and the comptroller's post, which is held by William Donald Schaefer. But the attorney general position has most intrigued him. Brown recently established an exploratory committee for attorney general.

The attorney general's race is complicated, however, by the fact that the longtime incumbent, J. Joseph Curran Jr. - who is O'Malley's father-in-law - has not expressed a desire to quit. Meanwhile, there are others, including Douglas F. Gansler, the well-financed Montgomery County state's attorney, and Montgomery County Council President Thomas E. Perez, who are interested in running.

Isiah Leggett, former chairman of the state Democratic Party, said Brown is "in pretty good demand" for either lieutenant governor or attorney general.


P.S. I mentioned him months ago as a possibility. Picking Brown could push me over the top to supporting O'Malleys campaign.

[nickshepDEM]

1. The Sun article goes on to take a little shot at Duncan.

Duncan campaign manager Scott Arceneaux said the executive will announce his running mate pick before the start of the General Assembly session next month. He said campaign officials are considering three finalists: state Sen. Gwendolyn T. Britt, a Prince George's Democrat; Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president of the University of Maryland Baltimore County; and Baltimore City Councilman Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr.

Mitchell said he did not know he was being considered by Duncan until being contacted by a reporter. "I haven't had any discussions with the Duncan campaign. I don't know what to say," Mitchell said last night.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.brown03dec03,1,719968.story?page=2&coll=bal-home-headlines


Maybe its just me, but if someone is on your final list of potential Lt. Gov.'s... Shouldnt they at least know about it? Just another example of the ineptitude at Duncan for Governor HQ's.

[Mr. Brown of MD]

2. Hrabowski would be very interesting

I went to UMBC until recently, which was during the Hrabowski era. That would be a great pick for Duncan. A charismatic black man with strong education and fiscal credentials - UMBC has grown and thrived under his leadership, not to mention made the most out of shrinking state money thanks to Ehrlich - and endless stories about his time spent in the civil rights movement and marching alongside Martin Luther King. (I know he has endless stories because I've heard plenty of them.) He connects with people and he can give a great stump speech. I never met a fellow student who did not have good things to say about him.

There is a lot of simmering discontent against Ehrlich on most MD campuses, but it doesn't boil because most feel like there's nothing that can be done. I think Dr. Hrabowski could probably tap into that and hopefully guarantee a larger than usual turnout among young people, and I think that he'd have even more to offer the Duncan camp than that.

I think Free-Herb (as we affectionately referred to him in the dorms) would probably end up stealing the spotlight from Duncan, which may not be so good for Duncan, but if Freeman would not be more of an asset to the campaign against Ehrlich than either of those other two names, I'll eat my hat.

I was pretty sure I was going to vote for O'Malley, but if Dr. Hrabowski really is on the short list, and he does get picked for Duncan, I'd be undecided again, because that would make things a lot more conflicted for me, personally.

[Polecat]

3. I agree, Nick

"Maybe its just me, but if someone is on your final list of potential Lt. Gov.'s... Shouldnt they at least know about it? Just another example of the ineptitude at Duncan for Governor HQ's."

I thought that was odd too. It's not like a reporter was using an unnamed source from within the campaign...the freaking campaign manager said it. Oh boy.