It should be kept in mind that Lt. Governor Steele was not elected. Republicans and their media seem to be breezing over this fact. Unlike lieutenant governors in states like Virginia, Colorado and California who are actually voted into office, Steele was selected to his post. While his name appeared on the state ballot as the running mate of Robert Ehrlich, the 2002 GOP gubernatorial nominee, voters in Maryland could only cast ballots for gubernatorial candidate and had no direct involvement in Steele's selection. Lieutenant governor candidates in Maryland are usually chosen for their ability to help the gubernatorial candidate win the support of some segment of the state's voters.
According to a Washington Post analysis of that election, Steele's presence on the GOP ticket had little effect on Black voters in Maryland. Ehrlich's Democratic opponent, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend "claimed nearly nine out of 10 black votes" the paper reported days after the election. That was the same percentage the Democratic candidate got in the previous two gubernatorial elections, which were won by Democrat Parris Glendening over Republican opponents who selected white men as their lieutenant governor running mates. [more ]
Meanwhile Colin Powell, who will not attend the Convention, is handling "pressing business" such as attending the inaugural of the new Panamanian president [more ] Yesterday he met with officials from the Republic of Korea in DC [more ] and on Monday he had no appointments on his schedule [more ]
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