Primary Errors

State Sen. C. Anthony Muse (D-Prince George's County) is launching a primary challenge to incumbent Democratic Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-MD). Now, challenging an incumbent is always difficult, and all the more so when the incumbent is a mainstream liberal (as Cardin is) in a liberal state (as Maryland is). One would presume that Muse would have to find some way to run to Cardin's left, to attract Democratic primary voters who might find Cardin too white-bread for their tastes.

So what's Muse's gambit? Speak at an anti-gay marriage rally in Baltimore, that's what! While it is true that African-American Democrats remain leery of gay marriage, overall overall about half of all Marylanders, and nearly 70% of all Maryland Democrats, favor the change. In a Democratic primary, running against two-thirds of your own electorate on a high-profile issue is not the way to unseat a perfectly popular, respected incumbent.