MD SEN: Who Judges "Significant" Candidates?

Is a guy who spends more than $4 million on statewide TV ads a “significant” candidate? What about a nationally recognized academic who spends his mornings waving to motorists and his evenings walking precincts? How about a former state legislator whose career includes a four-year stint as county executive of a jurisdiction that includes 14% of Maryland’s population?

Does that background give him “a reasonable chance” of being elected?

According to criteria established by League of Women Voters of Maryland (LWVMD) and Maryland Public Television (MPT), the answer to all these questions is no. Since millionaire businessman Joshua Rales, college professor Allan Lichtman, and former Baltimore County Executive Dennis Rasmussen all scored below 15% in independent statewide polls prior to July 1, the LWVMD and MPT concluded that none of these three candidates is viable enough to merit inclusion in tomorrow’s televised debate for the Democratic Senate nomination. Only front-runners Ben Cardin and Kweisi Mfume will appear on stage.

The LWVMD is in a tough spot here. With 18 Democrats filed for the Senate seat, it’s sensible to establish candidate inclusion criteria. And the league’s attempt to exclude the fringe candidates who have “no reasonable chance of being elected” is a necessary evil, if for no reason other than practicality.

But in this case, the 15% polling threshold that defines a viable or “significant candidacy” may be doing a disservice to Maryland voters. In most other states, and by most objective measures, Rales, Lichtman and Rasmussen would be considered top tier Senate primary candidates.

Since the decision to exclude the three is of considerable consequence--this is, after all, the only planned televised debate before the September 12 primary--the trio protested with a press conference today in front of the LWVMD’s Annapolis office. While the staged event was standard campaign fare—a handful of reporters, a few cameras, no voters—the real action occurred afterwards, when the candidates decided to storm the LWVMD offices.
Lichtman was the first candidate in, trailing after the reporters who sought out LWVMD President Lu Pierson for comment. Within a few minutes, the cramped space was jampacked with media, candidates and campaign staffers. The beleaguered but gracious Pierson answered a few press questions, but struggled as Lichtman and Rales -- and their wives – confronted her with loaded questions about the fairness of the debate inclusion criteria.
Pierson held her own, but Rales managed to stump her with this one: “Do you feel you are similar to the Supreme Soviet in how you govern?” [CHARLES MAHTESIAN]