WASHINGTON – Lt. Gov. Michael Steele raised $418,000 in the latest reporting period for an all-but-announced bid to become the first Republican senator from Maryland in 20 years.
However, Steele lags far behind Rep. Ben Cardin, D-Baltimore, who raised $877,000 in the third quarter of the year, from July 1 to Sept. 30, for a total of $2.1 million so far.
The two also hold the largest amounts of cash on hand, Cardin boasting $1.8 million and Steele $350,000.
There are at least six Democrats, three Republicans and one independent candidate in an increasingly expensive race to replace Sen. Paul Sarbanes, D-Md., who is not seeking re-election next year. The last time Maryland had an open Senate race was in 1986, when Barbara Mikulski won the seat vacated by Sen. Charles Mathias Jr., R-Md.
Steele’s campaign has been an open secret for the last several months, with state Republican Party spokeswoman Audra Miller stressing several weeks ago that the party “was strongly hopeful” about his candidacy.
“When it comes down to it, Michael Steele would be the best candidate to represent the people of Maryland because he listens and takes the time to listen to Marylanders,” Miller said.
A notice to e-mail subscribers on Steele’s campaign Web site said, “In the coming weeks, Michael and his family will make a final decision to run. Shortly after that, the campaign will begin in earnest.”
On Wednesday, the Maryland Republican Party sent out a notice touting “a very special announcement” Steele will make Tuesday in Largo.
Some political observers said Steele was probably formalizing his candidacy to enable raising more campaign funds.
“It’s easier to raise money once you’re declared,” said Blair Lee, a political columnist for the Gazette newspapers.
Lee expressed surprise that Steele was not waiting longer to announce his candidacy, given no real competition for his party’s nomination.
“(Steele) can sit and watch the Democrats have a great food fight,” Lee said.
The money is already flying in the Democratic field.
Democrat Lise Van Susteren, a forensic psychiatrist from Bethesda, received $250,000 in third-quarter contributions and holds $180,000 in cash.
Kweisi Mfume of Baltimore, former Democratic congressman and former head of the NAACP, has raised about $320,000 so far, $80,000 of that in the third quarter. He has $97,000 in cash.
Democrat Allan Lichtman, a history professor, raised $262,000, including $250,000 from a mortgage on his home. He has $260,000 cash on hand.
Lichtman spent the least money among Democrats in the third quarter, about $2,600, compared to $290,000 for Cardin’s expenses and $100,000 for Mfume’s. Most of that went toward developing his Web site, Lichtman said.
“We intend to run a very cost-efficient, grassroots, up-to-date electronic campaign without wasting money on consultants,” Lichtman said. “If you don’t know what you believe by now, you have no business running for office.”
Democrat A. Robert Kaufman, a socialist activist, said in a Sept. 30 interview with Capital News Service that his campaign had raised “a couple hundred” dollars and spent about $600 on printing bumper stickers and campaign buttons. Candidates are not required to file a report with the Federal Election Commission until they raise at least $5,000.
Kaufman spoke from his bed at a Baltimore nursing home, where he was recovering from multiple surgeries following a stabbing and beating attack on him in June. His campaign has been on hold during his recovery.
Joshua Rales, a Potomac businessman who switched parties last year and is now running as a Democrat, and Kevin Zeese, an independent, said they will not file reports with the FEC until January.
Other Republican candidates include Thomas Hampton of Severna Park, a controller for a manufacturing firm who has raised about $5,000 so far — none in the third quarter — and who has $2,000 in cash, and Corrogan Vaughn, a Baltimore businessman who did not return messages and who had not met at least two deadlines for disclosing his campaign’s finances.