August 10, 2006
D.C. Politics Roundup: Endorsements Edition
It's just over a month until the September 12 primary, and the endorsements are starting to roll in. Non-governmental organizations, newspapers, and big-name individuals are throwing their weight behind specific candidates, hoping to given them the final boost they need before election day.
In the first big mayoral endorsement of the campaign season, the Current newspaper group -- which publishes the Georgetown Current, the Dupont Current, the Foggy Bottom Current, and the Northwest Current -- endorsed Marie Johns for mayor. In a long editorial that spent the majority of its words debating the merits and shortcomings of both Adrian Fenty and Linda Cropp, the final judgement found that Johns "clearly outshines her competitors." The endorsement may prove helpful to the hard-charging former Verizon executive, who in the last three days has been prominently featured in two Post articles and is looking to challenge Cropp and Fenty. Might a Post endorsement be in the offing?
NBC 4's Tom Sherwood thinks not. Then again, Sherwood is swimming against the currents in his thinking of who the Post will ultimately endorse. He writes:
Conventional wisdom has had it for some time that the Post will endorse Linda Cropp -- a smooth, stable veteran of the intricacies of city government, bland but trustworthy on managing the $8 billion plus the city spends each year.The suspense is killing us.Yet, The Notebook can't shake the feeling that conventional wisdom would be wrong and the nod more likely will go instead to Adrian Fenty.
And of course, now that we're talking about endorsements, the next obvious question is whether DCist will endorse anyone. We've discussed it, but haven't yet decided. Endorsements can be somewhat hokey vestiges of the "traditional" media, and we're anything but traditional. Then again, we're willing to sell our praise in exchange for one of those cool low-numbered D.C. license plates.
Any takers?
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Can you outfit a Zipcar with a low numbered license plate? Say it ain't so!
LaRouche for DC Mayor!
Have to admit, she's on a roll...
Not so much of a roll as finding her level. She's unlikely in this campaign cycle to win enough suppport to take her out of the spoiler catagory. Deep down, she's got to know this. Anyone hear if she's shown practicality, like hinting she'd accept the City Admin job?
I think that even though people may be leaning toward a mayoral candidate, very few are strongly committed. It's a long shot, but Johns could pick up support over the next couple of weeks.
Some organizations are having trouble agreeing on a mayoral endorsement. DC for Democracy made its endorsements last week with none for mayor or council chair. The Sierra Club just sent out its endorsements: Vincent Gray, Mary Cheh, Tommy Wells, Jim Graham, and Phil Mendelson. Once again, no mayoral endorsement.
It's totally possible. If you believe the Post poll, the majority of Fenty and Cropp's supporters only support their candidate "somewhat" and most don't know Marie Johns well enough to make a decision. If voters have the opportunity, there's defintely a chance they could switch over to Marie.
I've been leaning toward Fenty myself (and Rees's anti-endorsement has pushed me infinitesimally more in that direction), but I'm not very happy with any of the candidates and I'm still persuadable. When DC for Democracy had its endorsement vote, Fenty came out ahead (but not enough for an endorsement) and Johns was a strong second. Cropp was way behind. I realize that's not a representative sample of DC voters, though.
The debate is on. The Johns campaign caved in to Fenty and are debating in Ward 8...in a non ADA compliant, non- metro accessible, non airconditioned, housing project. Wonder how many folks from Ward 1,2,3,4,5,and 6 will show up. This is sick. Why is Fenty making this debate so difficult? KCinDC- you should head out there to the debate. The debate is at the Woodland Terrace Housing Complex at 2300 Angel Place SE. Please come out and support...unless you are in a wheelchair or have breathing problems. Oh yeah, you must have a car also...unless you ride the bus out there..hmmm...
Why Fenty why?
Why not listen to it on the radio or watch it on TV or read about it in the papers?
Why, Dr. T, why, would Adrian attend a one-on-one debate with a candidate that has single to low-double digit support in the first place?
Be realistic: He's honoring her request by throwing her a bone, and you're complaining it has too little meat on it.
KCinDC, that link you provided indicated that Sam Brooks, not Mary Cheh received the DC for Democracy endorsement.
Fenty can do two things well...
(1) respond to email and (2) campaign for political office -- that is about it. God save the "citizens of the District of Columbia" if that nimrod becomes mayor.
On the other hand, all of the hardcore fools (zealots) who support him (because he is a breath of fresh air -- give me a break!) will finally realize by year two of a Fenty admin how good things actually were during the Williams era. Vote Cropp (sorry Johns, but you don't stand a chance) for chrissakes -- she is are only hope!!!
Fenty is a sham. He was canvasing the other day in Dupont and wouldn't even look me in the eyes. And that's the least of our concerns. Vote Brown for mayor...
Fenty is a sham. He was canvasing the other day in Dupont and wouldn't even look me in the eyes when he was shaking my hand. And that's the least of our concerns. Vote Brown for mayor...
If you do endorse people, I hope you'll also endorse people running for the "Shadow" seats (I'm running for Shadow Representative). With everyone running for Mayor, City Council, and Council Chair it's hard to get any attention for these races!
Check me out at: http://www.mikepanetta.com
You better believe Fenty is a big freeking sham.
He is actually a huge phony.
Check this out - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMB9R9aI8BU
(This is the funniest thing I have ever seen
Curious thing. Mayoral candidate Adrian Fenty streams the video of his latest political ad on his campaign website.
What’s peculiar is the name of the video file – Fenty 420.
What kind of a name is that for an ad about answering your blackberry Mr. Fenty?
It turns out that 420 is code for pot. A little research found that April 20th is National Pot Smokers Day.
Is this a coincidence?
It is no secret the District continues to struggle with a rampant drug problem. Is this Mr. Fenty’s way of making light of that crisis?
And the proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M8IDBGkKfM
Maybe this is an indication about the real Adrian Fenty. Maybe Adrian Fenty knows exactly what 420 stands for, personally.
Is the man the Washington Post just endorsed a pot head?
Why is the political ad called Fenty 420? Voters have a right to know before they go to the polls.