CD08

[LocalDem]

Today's Examiner has the field to replace Van Hollen at nine.
-Andrews
-Barve
-Floreen
-Frosh
-Garagiola
-Knapp
-Perez
-Turnbull
-Vollmer

Wow.

[DaveinMD]

1. Vollmer is not a real candidate

she runs every year. She ran after moving back to the district after a 20 year absence. The name missing from the list in Terry Lierman.

[LocalDem]

2. CD08

Good points. I had not heard Barve or Knapp before reading this article. Would Barve be the only Indian American in Congress?

[DaveinMD]

3. I believe so

Barve has flirted with running before. Maybe he takes the plunge this time.

I don't know that Knapp is liberal enough to compete in this primary.

[freestyle]

10. No. Bobby Jindal R-Louisiana is there n/t

[Frances]

4. I really liked Frosh who represented me in the MD legislature

What are Brian Frosh's chances?

I'm pleased that Terry Lierman isn't running. He's better off where he is.

[DaveinMD]

5. Frosh

has a decent shot if he can raise the money. He's extremely well respected. I think Turnbull is the favorite to win as the only credible woman in the race.

[LocalDem]

6. Floreen

I think very highly of Nancy Floreen. I know she has not come out clearly as "in" this race, as Turnbull has, but I think she'd be very good and has been elected county-wide.

[OnBackground]

7. handicpaping

Frosh is very well respected and has built a substantive reputation. Floreen has been out shaking hands a lot lately her name i.d. up. Does anyone outside of party workers really know Turnbull? Tom Perez has been mentioned a lot. What about Bill Bronrott, Cheryl Kagan, or Ana Sol Gutierrez as young (40-somethings), energetic, up-and-comers?

To LocalDem: Bobby Jindhal (R-LA) is the only Indian American in Congress right now and only the second ever.

[DaveinMD]

8. Turnbull

has been active on the community for over 25 years. She doesn't have high name id, but no one really does. And she can raise a ton of money.

[DaveinMD]

9. I like her a lot

I'm not sure if she is really eyeing this seat. I have a meeting with her soon. I worked closely with her on the vote no campaign. She is very bright.

[OnBackground]

11. other local stuff

Dave, thanks for the Turnbull insight. I wasn't knocking her, just questioning whether she has a base like some of the local electeds are assumed to.

Locally, Ike Leggett was at a meeting in Silver Spring Sunday to promote his candidacy for County Executive, Nancy Floreen is out shaking hands in what some have suggested is outreach prior to a congressional race, and the jockeying has certainly started for the D20 legislative openings that started as soon as everyone started assuming that Franchot is running for comptroller. Speaking of which, has anyone heard about other D20 retirements (I thought I heard Ruben)?

[DaveinMD]

12. I would be so happy

if Ruben retires. She is my least favorite Democratic politician.

[OnBackground]

13. a push

Maybe she needs some help in deciding to retire. Her support comes from a dwindling number of seniors and unwillingness of too many to challenge her incumbency. While she does have a lot of money, her outreach has been very weak the past few years and has resulted in a limited number of people who know her name or any reason to keep her.

[DaveinMD]

14. Ruben

is a mean, nasty person. I'd work for free for anyone that runs against her.

[LocalDem]

20. Heather Mizeur

of the Takoma Park Council is a very impressive person and I would love to see her run for something like this.

[DaveinMD]

21. I've heard

she will run for House of Delegates. Its likely Peter Franchot will be running for Comptroller.

[Frances]

15. I think Floreen is too in debt to developers

I don't think she would stand up for middle class people.

[DaveinMD]

16. I disagree

not everyone who favors the ICC is doing so because of developers. She's a good Democrat.

[Frances]

17. But I don't think she is the best qualified of the candidates

Do you?

[DaveinMD]

18. she's a good candidate

I will recuse myself from commenting on who the best candidate is.

[Frances]

19. Fair enough

nt

[OnBackground]

22. 8th continued

Roll Call has an article today on how busy Chris Van Hollen is with three House committees, recruiting work for the DCCC, and exploring a Senate run. Most of it isn't that interesting, except that it points out that Van Hollen has more money than Cardin or Mfume right now.

Also, another name to add to the mix if he does decide to move is Jamie Raskin, an AU professor of law with a strong local network.

[LocalDem]

23. Raskin? Really?

That's crazy.
I realized that the lists above also overlook two very obvious candidates, the '02 runners up, Mark Shriver and Ira Shapiro. So where does that put us? 14??

[many a good man]

24. Perez represents the "new Montgomery"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22074-2005Apr2.html

He'd be a terrific voice on Capitol Hill. Much of America is becoming "new" like Montgomery. Its time for the national party to become "new", too. We need to cultivate new leadership. Leadership with authenticity that connects with the people. If Tom Perez fits that description we should share him with the national stage.

[Frances]

25. Thanks for this link

Is there any chance Perez would win if he ran for Attorney General? I would like to see more Hispanics like him in high profile jobs because our party needs them.

[OnBackground]

26. 8th continued

It's no surprise that Connie <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/01/AR2005060101083.html">Morella</a> isn't interested in running for her old House seat, according to comments by Republican MoCo councilmember Howard Denis (in the Post). What is interesting is that Denis, one of very few elected Republicans locally, isn't willing to run himself. Now I understand that he's up for reelection and doesn't want to risk his seat for a tough, uphill congressional race, but what was his reasoning in 2004?

[DaveinMD]

27. the seat

isn't winnable for any Republican. If Morella couldn't hold it as an incumbent there is no way any other Republican can win it. Its that simple.

[OnBackground]

28. yes, i know

I understand that the 8th is a huge uphill battle for any R, as is are most significant MoCo posts, so one has to assume that any but the most conservative or flaky candidates who choose to run as Rs in this county are up for longshots. In light of that fact, his reluctance is hardly surprising but inexplicable. He could have, after all, made a career as a D while being in the same place ideologically as so many local politicians have.

After the obvious names like Frosh, Shriver, and Perez, this week the Gazette ticked off names for the potential vacancy in the 8th, should Chris Van Hollen run for Senate:

"Sen. Robert J. Garagiola (D-Dist. 15); Del. William A. Bronrott (D-Dist. 16); House Majority Leader Kumar P. Barve (D-Dist. 17); Montgomery County Councilman Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg; and Ira S. Shapiro, who lost to Van Hollen in 2002."

More interesting were the Gazette's <a href="http://www.gazette.net/200523/montgomerycty/state/278698-1.html">none-too-subtle</a> nudging of Van Hollen to stay out of the Senate Race.

[LocalDem]

29. CVH is out of the senate race

per a campaign email this afternoon.

[CBHagman]

30. I just got the e-mail, too.

Van Hollen has announced he will not seek the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat. I think it's the right decision for him. For all that he would have made a fine senator, I hope he will hold off until Barbara Mikulski retires or some other future position opens up for him.

Now I just want him to work like crazy to turn the tide in our favor, in all races and at all levels.

Go, Chris!

[DaveinMD]

31. so many

fine politicians are disappointed today.

[OnBackground]

32. Leadership prospects

Van Hollen is young, only in his second term in the House, and with a bright future: he might ascend the leadership ladder in the House or be in a great position should Sen. Mikulski retire in four years.