Obama's voice on the radio
Baltimore area residents who listen to African-American radio stations like WOLB this morning will hear President Barack Obama making a pitch to re-elect Gov. Martin O'Malley, according to the governor's campaign.
(Text of the ad and a link to hear it appear after the jump.)
The radio spot will feature the president touting fellow Democrat O'Malley's record on education and the economy. It will be later be aired on a broader number of radio stations, said O'Malley Deputy Campaign Manager Rick Abbruzzese.
Rumors that Obama (or the First Lady) will stump for O'Malley in Maryland have been swirling around the State House for weeks -- but those intensified Monday. Abbruzzese would not confirm whether the president has committed to campaign.
Fueling the talk perhaps was O'Malley's Monday stop at the White House to witness Obama sign into law a bill that included a program that lets governments guarantee some small business loans -- an initiative that the governor has been pushing in order to help businesses borrow funds from the still tight capital markets.
In the dead-heat gubernatorial competition, turnout will be critical, and the state's top Democrats are nervous after the unusually poor showing in the primary. Over the summer polls showed that Obama was still fairly popular in Maryland -- which is 29.7 percent African-American.
The country's first black president could be particularly helpful in Baltimore and Prince George's County, two majority African-American and majority Democratic areas where O'Malley is counting on racking up the votes needed to win.
Text and ad link, provided by the O'Malley campaign:
Narrator: An important message from President Barack Obama.
The President: Maryland. You have a choice in the election this fall. A choice whether you keep moving forward with the hard working leadership and vision of Governor Martin O'Malley ... or do you slip backwards ?
In the toughest of times, Martin O'Malley has moved Maryland forward creating jobs, investing in schools, providing affordable opportunities for college, and improving public safety.
I've seen Martin work ... and I know this governor has made the tough decisions to put education, safety, and job creation first.
So, stand with me, Barack Obama, in Moving Maryland Forward with my friend ... Martin O'Malley.
Narrator: So please join President Barack Obama in supporting Martin O'Malley for Governor. Because voting in this year's election is to best way to strengthen our schools, create new jobs, and keep Maryland Moving Forward.
MOM: Paid for by friends of Martin O'Malley. M.Cadagon, treasurer
Comments
The ad should read:
" In tough times MOM was able to freeze college tuition by passing the largest tax increase in Maryland's history."
Posted by: john | September 28, 2010 12:46 PM
It's sad that President Obama thinks O'Malley is moving Maryland forward. I'm fine with Obama, but O'Malley is horrible. He's kept money out of our city schools, tried to stop charter schools and he raised taxes including the sales tax by 20% and doubled the cigarette tax. Im not so keen on Bob Ehrlich, but I think balance is good.
Posted by: Colin | September 28, 2010 1:33 PM
Looking at their records, I’ll take O’Malley over Ehrlich any day. O’Malley has moved Maryland forward while Ehrlich just wants to take us back into the ditch where he left us.
On one side you have Ehrlich, a failed ex-governor turned corporate lobbyist / boring propaganda spewing radio jock who constantly lies about his own record, which includes raising taxes & fees, raising tuition, increasing spending by more than any other governor in MD history while disregarding warnings that his spending was unsustainable and leaving with a $1.7 billion deficit. And whenever I see Ehrlich all I can think about how much he looks like a weasel or rat – definitely some sort of beady-eyed rodent. But I digress. Ehrlich showed that he was more interested in paying back his cronies than doing anything good for the people of Maryland. On the other side you have Gov. O’Malley who inherited budget deficits from Ehrlich and still managed to freeze tuition, protect the environment, increase school funding, and had to make a lot of tough decisions that angered people on both sides and will probably cost him re-election for being the adult and trying to be fiscally responsible. Oh, and he was named "America's Greatest Education Governor".
As they say, a “no- brainer”. As for people who vote for Ehrlich, that is literally true.
Posted by: mapson | September 29, 2010 9:25 PM