WASHINGTON – Across the country, well-known veteran politicians are gearing up for the 1998 Senate elections by raising the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to challenge entrenched incumbents.
But in Maryland, the only candidates in sight to take on Sen. Barbara Mikulski are two Republicans with no political experience, no name recognition and no money.
“It will take some lightening striking (or) a massive blunder on Mikulski’s part,” said George Washington University Political Science Professor Lee Sigelman.
Campaigns & Elections, an insider’s political magazine, named Mikulski the most heavily favored Senate incumbent for 1998. The magazine said she had an 83 percent chance of winning.
Mikulski was first elected to the Senate in 1986 with 61 percent of the vote over former White House aide Linda Chavez. She won re-election in 1992 with 71 percent, beating out ex- Reagan administration official Alan Keyes.
The strongest Republicans in Maryland today, including Reps. Constance A. Morella of Montgomery County and Robert Ehrlich of Baltimore County, have passed on a Mikulski challenge in 1998 – leaving two political unknowns.
Thomas Scott, 52, of Towson, who owns a commercial contracting firm, declared his Senate candidacy in August.
Scott’s campaign is based on education reform, abolishing the income tax and reducing the national debt.
“For every dollar sent to Washington for the education budget, the states get back 12 cents,” he said. “We are throwing money after bad standards that have nothing to do with the education of our children.”
Scott chided Mikulski for “pretending” to be a supporter of the working class, yet voting for tax hikes.
“Many people have viewed her as being a tenacious fighter – almost a pit bull for their welfare. I really don’t believe that she is,” Scott said.
Mikulski press secretary Rich Fiesta did not return repeated telephone calls and fund-raising director Jennifer Treat declined to comment.
The other Republican candidate is John Stafford, 56, a Silver Spring investment manager and one-time Democrat who switched to the GOP in 1982.
Stafford is a lawyer who served in the Reagan administration as director of the Office of Hearings and Appeals at the Interior Department and as staff counsel at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He also spent a year as a special counsel to the Senate Commerce Committee.
He said he dated Mary Jo Kopechne, who died at Chappaquiddick, attended elementary school with 1996 GOP presidential challenger Pat Buchanan and served in the student government at the University of Maryland with Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-St. Mary’s, according to The Hill, a daily newspaper that covers Congress.
Stafford said he advocates repeal of the federal income tax and promotes job growth. He opposes abortion rights, pornography and physician-assisted suicide.
“I am a returned-cradle Catholic,” he said. “I am in the camp that represents traditional views.”
Stafford has not formally declared his candidacy, but said he will announce before March.
In addition to facing a popular incumbent and a 2-1 Democratic advantage in voter registration, the Republican nominee will have an uphill battle in the fight for campaign dollars.
Mikulski spent $3.6 million in her last election, out- spending Keyes more than 3-to-1. And she already has raised nearly $766,000 for next year, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Stafford said he hasn’t decided whether he will raise money. Scott said he hopes to raise $2 million.
Maryland Republican Party Chairwoman Joyce Terhes called Scott “strong, articulate and a very good worker with good ideas,” but said fund-raising will be critical.
“If she (Mikulski) did not go out of state to raise it, then she would not have it,” Terhes said.
Over half of Mikulski’s funds – $419,000 – came from outside of Maryland, according to an analysis by FECInfo, a government watchdog group. Leading the way were New York, Illinois, New Jersey, California, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Democrats say Mikulski will run on her record.
“Her issues for health, education and working families are a tremendous boost for her election efforts,” said Michael Tucker, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Mikulski authored the Mammography Quality Standards Act, passed by Congress in 1992, which established nationwide safety and testing standards for mammography facilities and technicians.
She also voted against welfare reform in 1996 and against cutting Medicare/Medicaid payments this year.
“She represents one of the strongest incumbents we have,” Tucker said, calling her “strong as new rope.”
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