Hours after questioning the legitimacy of Rep. Ben Cardin’s victory in the U.S. Senate Democratic Primary, rival Kweisi Mfume conceded and assured his support for Cardin in the general election campaign against Republican Michael Steele.
The conversation Cardin and Mfume had Friday could be seen as a relief for Democratic leaders, who are worried that without any African-American candidates headlining the November ticket, black voters may not be motivated to vote come November.
Tuesday’s primary left the Democratic ticket devoid of black candidates at the top, with the exception of Anthony G. Brown, who is running for lieutenant governor. The gubernatorial, U.S. Senate, comptroller and attorney general Democratic nominees are all white.
Mfume came within 3 percent of Cardin, and that polling strength statewide has turned Mfume into a key factor in the general election campaign. It’s particularly important to retain his black voters in the Senate race because Steele is black and likely to attract black voters, analysts have said.
In Maryland around 29 percent of the population is African American, according to the census database, and black voters represent 20 percent of voters in general elections.
To ensure Mfume’s support, some observers say the Democratic Party may try to find another position for him in the wake of his loss to Cardin.
Former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke, who is now Howard University’s law school dean, said he heard “a couple of people” suggesting that Mfume should run for Baltimore Mayor next year, but recalled that Mfume had that possibility in 1999 and declined.
“He certainly is very popular in the city and could be a strong candidate,” Schmoke said. “The real issue is if he wants to.”
Mfume will be active “in vocally supporting” Cardin, Schmoke said. “Steele is going to try to persuade African-American Democrats to cross over and vote for him,” explained Schmoke. “Mfume will be very helpful for Cardin in helping to resist that appeal.”
Democrats are likely to spend more time highlighting the fact that Brown is running with O’Malley, Schmoke said.
“They will try to elevate his status,” he said. “But that still does not make up for the fact that there is not an independent African-American running.”
Cardin’s victory may encourage some black voters, especially young ones, to cross over to vote Steele — he is perceived as moderate and could become the first black U.S. senator from Maryland, agreed Ronald Walters, director of the African American Leadership Institute at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Mfume could play a big role in retaining black votes for Democrats, Walters said.
“If he campaigns effectively for Cardin, that is going to be very important,” he said. But Mfume could be “elevated in the ticket,” for example being attached to O’Malley’s administration if he becomes the governor.
Walters suggested that the Democratic Party should give Mfume “the kind of visibility both in the campaign and in a prospective administration that will cause people to understand that the government structure is going to approve people like that.”
But which position Mfume would take in the campaign for the general election remains to be seen. His press secretary Steve Marinoff said Mfume “is not thinking about politics righ