I just can’t see Donna Edwards losing the nomination with all these White Dems running. If I were Van Hollen, I’d be really pissed at KKT. The sole possible threats to Edwards is if Ben Jealous and PG County Exec Rushern Baker decide to run (Elijah Cummings is also mentioned, but he’s got more power in the House). If Reps. Sarbanes, Ruppersberger and Delaney get in, this could be the biggest free-for-all for a Senate seat in modern history.
Only Steny Hoyer isn’t interested in running, and that only because he still believes he’ll be Speaker eventually.
Settling on a single viable Republican to run is important here. With Edwards as the Dem nominee, this is absolutely a winnable seat, even in a Presidential year.
DJ, I think that at least one additional prominent Democrat will run, probably a black Democrat from Baltimore (the only remaining demographic with a chance of winning). Maybe Mayor Stephanie Ralings-Blake. If a Baltimore black jumps in, it could be anyone’s race.
Even if Edwards or KKT win the RAT nomination, it still will be very difficult for the GOP to win the general, particularly in a presidential year. Also, we don’t have much of a bench. The newly elected governor and Lt. Gov. won’t run so quickly. Congressman Andy Harris likely is too conservative to win statewide, and I don’t think that he’ll give up his safe district to run (particularly in a presidential year). Maybe Bonino? Or that Charles County GOP chairman, Charles Lollar, who might cut into the black vote if one of tbe white Democrats wi s the nomination. And I guess there’s always Ehrlich and Steele ....