20060915 KDDC Democratic National Party reserves $1Million in Steele attack ads

Democratic National Party reserves $1Million in Steele attack ads
September 15, 2006

The DNC is about to unleash $1 Million in Bush-Steele attack ads.

Apparently the Democratic National Part is quite worried about the real possibility that Maryland’s Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R) will put a Senate seat this fall in the hands of the Republicans.

So much so that they have reserved one million dollars worth of attack negative ads against the Lt. Gov. for the final two weeks before the November 7th, 2006 general election.

For some background, in a September 13, 2006 post by Chris Bowers on the My Direct Democracy web site: “

Senate Forecast 2006,” writes:

“Overall: Republicans currently control the Senate 55-43-2.

Democrats need at least a net total of six seats in order to take control, assuming both Senate Independents caucus with Democrats.

One incoming Independent, Bernie Sanders (I-VT), has indicated he will caucus with the Democrats. One Independent in a dogfight, Joe Lieberman (CfL-CT), currently indicates that he will caucus with Democrats.”

Mr. Bowers lists the Maryland Senate contest to go “Likely Democrat.”

Writing: “Maryland (Democrat: Ben Cardin). Cardin won the primary, but the campaign stays in this spot until we see post-primary information.

Maryland turnout was enormous for the primary, with over 500K voters and Both Cardin and Mfume easily outpacing Steele in terms of total votes.

Cardin also leads Steele in all polls. Further, Cardin had a lead despite having far lower name ID than Steele, something his recent ad blitz and primary win will fix. As tempting as it is to think that this race is now "likely Dem," I can't quite move it into that category until I see some post-primary numbers.

The primary did, after all, drain Cardin's cash a bit. Money race as of 6/30: Steele $3.1M, Cardin $1.6M
Latest polls: Gonzales Research, Cardin 44%, Steele 39%; Rasmussen (R), August 9th, Cardin 47%, Steele 42%, Washington Post, June 25, Cardin 49% Steele 39%

Meanwhile WBAL TV is reporting: “Steele Warns Marylanders In New TV Ad:”

WBAL TV
POSTED: 5:43 pm EDT September 15, 2006
UPDATED: 5:49 pm EDT September 15, 2006

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Steele is warning Marylander’s that he’s about to get slammed by the National Democratic party in a new TV ad campaign.

According to Steele campaign officials, the Democratic National Party has reserved an estimated $1 million dollars in air time, from Oct. 24 to Nov. 7, to trot out Bush-Steele attack ads.

The new ad is Steele's third TV commercial in which he's targeting conservative Democrats and Independents. Political analyst Barry Rascovar said, “The Independent voters are frustrated with government the way it is in Washington, and that's what Steele is trying to appeal to.”

In a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee memo, first reported by the Washington Post, Democrats declared "Steele is a unique challenge. Democrats cannot afford to wait until the primary to knock Steele down. A persuasion campaign should start as soon as possible to discredit Steele as a viable candidate for the community."

Republicans said that's a reference to the African-American community. Democrats choose all white males at the top of their ticket in the primary.

“I think a big question that comes out is, where will Democrats go, particularly black Democrats who now have an option of Michael Steele,” said political analyst Donnie Glover.

The results of the Democratic primary have Republicans touting their party as more diverse.

Audra Miller, spokeswoman for the state Republican Party, said “The Democratic power brokers in the back rooms continue to decide for the voters, and unfortunately it has left diversity and the majority of the state by the wayside.”

Many are questioning whether race will play a party in the Republic campaign against Democratic candidate Ben Cardin.

However, Ben Cardin doesn’t think so. “I just heard Michael Steele say a few minutes ago that it’s his strong desire for that not to be the case, and that's certainly my strong desire as well. So it seems to me that if both the senatorial candidates don't want to use race, they won't do it. But maybe I'm a little naïve about that.”

Michael Steele and Ben Cardin will debate on Meet the Press with Tim Russert next month.

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