Is This Smart Politics?

A lot of what I would call “Vulnerable Democrats” are endorsing Martin O’Malley for Governor next year, despite the fact that he increased taxes by the largest amount in history, and will be in a situation to do so again after the election.

Most people are looking at this list as how it helps Governor Martin O’Malley in a potential Democratic Primary,especially considering how Prince George’s County isn’t represented, but the flip side, is those endorsing Governor O’Malley who represent fiscally conservative areas of the State are going to face a tough time in the next election in why they want O’Malley re-elected after the tax increase, after speed cameras, after the huge government spending.

The following folks I could see this endorsement being used against them:

Senator John Astle
Senator Jim Brochin
Senator Ed DeGrange
Senator Roy Dyson
Senator Ed Kasemeyer
Senator Kathy Klausmeier
Senator Mac Middleton
Senator Norman Stone
Delegate Pam Beidle
Delegate Eric Bromwell
Delegate Jon Cardin – ok, this one is more I’m surprised O’Malley would accept the endorsement…
Delegate Galen Clagett
Delegate Virginia Clagett
Delegate Steve DeBoy
Delegate John Donoghue
Delegate Mary Dulaney-James
Delegate Sue Hecht
Delegate Sally Jameson
Delegate Sue Kullen
Delegate Steve Lafferty
Delegate Jim Malone
Delegate Jim Mathias
Delegate Johnny O Jr.
Delegate Dan Riley
Delegate Dave Rudolph
Delegate Ted Sophocleus
Wicomico County Executive Ricky Politt
Baltimore County Sheriff Jay Fisher
Baltimore County Register of Wills Grace Connolly
Charles County Sheriff Rex Coffey
Charles County Circuit Court Clerk Sharon Hancock
Harford County Sheriff Jesse Bane
Anne Arundel County Sheriff Ron Bateman
Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Frank Weathersbee
Talbot County State’s Attorney Scott Patterson
Talbot County Register of Wills Alice Anderson
Allegany County Commission President Jim Stakem
Anne Arundel County Councilman Jamie Benoit
Anne Arundel County Councilman Joshua Cohen
Anne Arundel County Councilman Daryl Jones
Baltimore County Councilman Joseph Bartenfelder
Baltimore County Councilman Vincent Gardina
Calvert County Commission President Wilson Parran
Cecil County Commission President Brian Lockhart
Cecil County Commissioner Wayne Tome
Charles County Commission President Wayne Cooper
Charles County Commissioner Gary V. Hodge
Charles County Commissioner Reuben Collins II
Charles County Commissioner Edith Patterson
Frederick County Commission President Jan Gardner
Frederick County Commissioner Kai Hagen
Harford County Councilwoman Mary Ann Lisanti
Howard County Councilwoman Courtney Watson
Kent County Commissioner Ron Fithian
Kent County Commissioner William Pickrum
Queen Anne’s County Commissioner President Gene Ransom
Queen Anne’s County Commissioner Paul Gunther
Queen Anne’s County Commissioner Carol Fordonski
Somerset County Commission President James Ring
Somerset County Commissioner James East
Somerset County Commissioner Michael McCready
Somerset County Commissioner Rex Simpkins
Talbot County Council President Phil Foster
Talbot County Councilman Levin Harrison IV
Talbot County Councilman Tom Duncan
Worcester County Commissioner Virgil Shockley
Aberdeen Mayor Michael Bennett
Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer

Ok… you probably get the point… if they aren’t from Prince George’s County, Baltimore City, or Montgomery County and they are endorsing Martin O’Malley for Governor, it can be a campaign issue. Some of those folks more than others, especially the Delegates and Senators that voted against the tax increase that marks all of Martin O’Malley’s accomplishments.

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