Rep. Benjamin Cardin close to decision on entering MD. Senate race Against Mfume

• Originally published in The Baltimore Sun March 23, 2005 Wednesday Copyright 2005 The Baltimore Sun Company

By Gwyneth K. Shaw, SUN NATIONAL STAFF


WASHINGTON - Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin said yesterday that he is still seriously considering a run for the U.S. Senate and plans to announce a decision soon.

"I am pretty much on schedule. I've talked to a lot of people, and they've all been very encouraging," he said. "We're going through this process, and I'm hoping to complete it within the time frame I've set out, which was a couple of weeks."

Cardin, 61, is one of several Democrats who have expressed interest in the seat held by Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes, who announced this month that he will retire when his term ends after next year.

So far, only Kweisi Mfume - a former Baltimore congressman who recently resigned as president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - has formally announced his candidacy. Yesterday, A. Robert Kaufman, a civic activist who has made several unsuccessful runs for statewide office, said he would file as a candidate Monday.

Other Democrats are mulling whether to jump into the race. Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger opened an exploratory fund-raising account last week, while aides to Reps. Chris Van Hollen and Elijah E. Cummings said yesterday that both are still thinking about running. So is Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey.

All are testing the waters, consulting friends, family and - most important - people who understand political polling and fund raising across Maryland.

On the Republican side, Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele has said he is seriously considering a run and will make further announcements in the next few weeks.

Cardin, who represents parts of Baltimore and the surrounding area, was elected to Congress in 1986 after spending almost 20 years in the state House of Delegates. In January, he became the top Democrat on the trade subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee.

He has flirted with the idea of running for statewide office before, most recently in 1998, when he considered challenging then-Gov. Parris N. Glendening in the Democratic primary.

Cardin said that if he decides to run, he will announce a formal candidacy, skipping the more tentative step of forming an exploratory committee.

Asked whether an announcement could come by the end of this week, he said, "A lot depends - I can't answer that, because I have not concluded what I'm going to do."

Ex-NAACP pres./ex-Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D) has already
announced, and on 3/22, '86/'88/'04 candidate/'96/'02 MD-07
candidate A. Robert Kaufman (D), 74, "said he would file as a
candidate." Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-02) "opened an
exploratory fund-raising account last week," while aides to
Reps. Chris Van Hollen (D-08) and Elijah Cummings (D-07) said
3/22 "that both are still thinking about running." So is PG Co.
State's Atty Glenn Ivey (D). "All are testing the waters,
consulting friends, family," and people who understand political
polling and fundraising across MD. LG Michael Steele (R) "has
said he is seriously considering a run and will make further
announcements in the next few weeks" (Shaw, Baltimore Sun,
3/23).

VAN HOLLEN EXPLORIN'

In a fundraising e-mail, Van Hollen writes: "In the wake of
Senator (Paul) Sarbanes' (D) surprise retirement, it is
essential that we have a strong candidate to take his place and
ensure that this seat remains in Democratic hands. I have been
very moved by the large number of people who, during the past
ten days, have encouraged me to run for the U.S. Senate. Today,
I am writing to seek your input and support as I seriously and
actively explore this possibility. I believe in the old adage
'look before you leap' and I intend to use this exploratory
period to test the amount of political and financial support we
can build in order to make an informed decision. I will not be
rushed into making a final decision and have not set an
artificial deadline."

"First, I hope you will sign up to be a part of our
exploratory network and help with our political outreach to
people and communities around the state. ... Second, I hope you
can help us send a strong message by contributing now. An early
test of our strength will be the amount of funds available
should I decide to run for Senate" (3/23).

ALAN KEYES... THE AUTOPILOT OF SENATE CAMPAIGNS

Baltimore Sun's Linskey asks: Since '88/'92 nominee/'96/'00
WH candidate/'04 IL SEN nominee Alan Keyes (R) still has a house
in MD, "could he reverse his carpetbagging and come back here
for a third attempt to finally represent the state?" Keyes
spokesperson Connie Hair: "I'm waiting for a response from him.
... (He is) completely focused right now on the Terri Schiavo
matter."

Dem consultant David Axelrod: "He's failed spectacularly in
Maryland and Illinois. I'd think that he'd want to try one of
the other 48 states next." But Chicago Dem politico Kevin Lampe
"suggested Keyes might have a warm reception" in MD: "I think
the Maryland GOP would meet him at the border with a big welcome
home sign."

"Well, maybe not. When asked how the GOP here would view
another Keyes candidacy," MD GOP chair John Kane said: "I have
no comment on that."

A "bid would neatly bracket Keyes' career as a candidate"
between his first 2 MD SEN bids and his 2 WH bids. "However,
noise coming from the Keyes camp didn't sound enthusiastic"
about another SEN campaign. In fact, Hair "wouldn't even say
where Keyes hangs his hat these days." Hair: "Unless he is
running for office, he doesn't have to disclose his private
residence" (3/23).