Political Juice Blender: GOP Money Troubles & Updates on Maryland's Congressional Races // CD6 & CD4 Horserace Chatter

Here's a random blend of political tidbits from recent news, starting with an ironic reader-submitted photo of GOP Chair Alex Mooney's budget management successes (captions provided by Juice):

6TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Maryland GOP Chair Alex Mooney isn't the only person having trouble fundraising. The Gazette reports that embattled Rep. Roscoe Bartlett from the 6th Congressional District is not raising any money but has new primary challengers emerging every day:

Four GOP primary opponents so far have filed to challenge longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett, 85, who has held the seat since 1992.

One of Bartlett’s Republican opponents, Brandon Rippeon, already is airing a TV commercial throughout western Maryland....

“We all love [Bartlett],” he’s done a great job, but we think it’s time for new leadership,” Rippeon added. 

Despite the opposition lining up, the incumbent is not worried, said Bartlett spokeswoman Lisa Wright.But Bartlett raised just $1,000 in the most recent financial report in a race that is expected to be heavily contested by the eventual Democratic opponent. 

“Congressman Bartlett has always been unconventional,” Wright said. “He does not want to be beholden to campaign donors for the decisions he makes because he wants to make the decisions that are best for his country and all the constituents he represents.”

Did ya'll catch that? Rep. Bartlett's spokespeople are saying not raising money is just part of his style. I think we can all read between the lines here: even if Bartlett wins the GOP Primary, he can't run a General Election campaign in CD6. Meanwhile, Democratic challenger State Senator Rob Garagiola today announced the support of the Firefighters:


Firefighters Local 1664 Endorses State Senator Rob Garagiola for 6th Congressional District

4TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Our final bit of political juice involves recent news regarding the Democratic Primary battle between Rep. Donna Edwards in CD4 and former Prince George's State's Attorney Glenn Ivey. It appears Ms. Edwards' campaign leaked some internal polling numbers to the Baltimore Sun showing her ahead of her Democratic challengers:

Rep. Donna F. Edwards, the Democratic incumbent facing a primary in Maryland’s newly redrawn 4th Distrcit, enjoys a 68 percent favorability rating among likely primary voters and would beat all of her challengers if the election were held today, according to an internal poll obtained by The Sun.

Edwards, first elected in a special election in 2008, beats former Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey 52 percent to 16 percent, according to the poll, which was funded by her campaign and conducted by Democratic pollster Lake Research Partners.

Anne Arundel County Council member Jamie Benoit, who has said he is considering a run, draws 3 percent of the vote....

Internal polls can often skew toward the candidate funding them and many voters are likely not yet paying attention to the race. Nearly five in 10 voters had a favorable view of Ivey and 41 percent had no opinion or had not heard of him.

Anything could still happen, especially since the issues have not yet been framed and no media expenditures have begun -- but still, if the numbers are taken at face value, they are good news for Rep. Edwards' reelection chances.