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On the Trail: Maryland's presidential primary

1:05 PM EST, February 12, 2008

On the Trail: Coverage of Maryland's primary

Notes and quotes from events and preparations leading up to the Feb. 12 primary election in Maryland

Tuesday, Feb. 12

Youth voter turnout up at Owings Mills High
12:54 p.m.: Election officials at the Owings Mills High School polling place said there was an increase in turnout there by young people -- including some who didn't know they had to register in advance to cast a ballot.

"We're getting younger voters, a lot of first-timers. Some aren't even registered to vote," said Amy Whitten, the chief Republican election judge. She said officials told those who weren't on the rolls how to register to be able to vote in the November general election.

One young voter at Owings Mills High, Jessica Douglas, 17, a senior at Notre Dame Preparatory School, said she registered in December. She will turn 18 in June, and state law allows 17-year-olds to vote in primaries if they will be 18 by the general election.

Douglas said she supported Obama because "I am a big fan of the way he thinks and presents himself." She said if Obama were not on the ballot, she wouldn't be so interested in the presidential race.

Candidates have been generating interest among young people by appearing on Internet sites such as youtube.com, Whitten said.

-Gina Davis

Voters stream in at no-pomp Balto. Co. poll
11:54 a.m.: At Western School of Technology in Catonsville today, there was little indication from the outside that there was a primary election at all.

No campaign signs. No poll workers from the parties handing out brochures to sway undecided voters. No balloons. Just a sign taped to the gymnasium door that voting was inside.

Inside, a steady trickle of voters cast their ballots, said election judges Jayne Vanderwaart and Tracey Jackson.

"It's been pretty quiet," said Jackson, the Republican party judge at the polling place.

One voter seemed especially excited to cast a ballot -- a Republican who wanted to vote in the Democratic primary, Vanderwaart said. The voter was given a provisional ballot, she said.

Aside from a glitch at Catonsville High School earlier in the day, election officials in Baltimore County reported no major problems today at the 219 polls there.

"Everyone was up and running, no later than 7:15 a.m.," said Katie A. Brown, deputy director of the Baltimore County Board of Elections.

-Laura Barnhardt

Monday, Feb. 11

Obama backers must pay for towing
2:45 p.m.: Hope for America. Tow for Obama.

About 20 people who drove to downtown Baltimore to attend a campaign rally for Sen. Barack Obama at 1st Mariner Arena ended up getting their cars towed and having a postrally gathering behind the barbed-wire fences at the city's vehicle impoundment lot.

Because Obama, a Democratic candidate for president, was 2 1/2 hours late to the 2:45 p.m. rally, several of his supporters who parked at meters were ticketed by police. And then they got a big Baltimore welcome: a $237 fee from the city, which includes $105 for towing, $50 storage, $42 ticket and $40 administrative fee.

"It was upsetting because I was coming out of the Obama speech so elated, and then I saw my car was gone," said Kait Maillet, 21, a Loyola College student whose Kia Sportage was towed from Park Avenue near Howard Street. "At first I thought it was stolen."

Maurice Chalmus, 55, a mentor at Samuel L. Banks High School, said he noticed that Mayor Sheila Dixon was at the rally, urging people to come out and vote for Obama. Chalmus said he plans to call the mayor and ask her about the $237 fee he got for supporting her cause.

-Tom Pelton

Michelle Obama on Eastern Shore
2:28 p.m.: Stumping for her husband's presidential campaign today, Michelle Obama arrived in the Eastern Shore college town of Princess Anne to a standing ovation.

Morning classes were all but canceled at the historically black university in rural Somerset County as students and faculty members scrambled for seats at the noon-time speech.

Obama quickly warmed a crowd of about 1,200 University of Maryland Eastern Shore students and professors who say Barack Obama's bid for the Democratic nomination has stirred the historically black campus like nothing in memory.

"Having his wife here was still very exciting, the way things have been growing on campus about Barack," said Jelila Jones, a 23-year-old senior. "When you have a lady as inspirational as that, it left an impression on all of us."

-Chris Guy

Janet Huckabee in Ellicott City
1:21 p.m.: Janet Huckabee stood before about 75 people in the two-month-old Java Grande coffee shop on U.S. 40 in Ellicott City today, charming the largely supportive audience of retirees, young parents and their children and campaign stalwarts.

She spoke and answered questions for about 45 minutes, describing her nearly 34-year marriage to Mike Huckabee, who she's known since seventh grade. She also talked about her morning skeet shooting outing earlier today in frosty Western Maryland.

Former state senator and Maryland Human Resources Secretary Christopher J. McCabe, one of three Huckabee Maryland co-chairs, introduced her, while putting in a pitch for Monique DeBerry's new coffee shop in a new shopping center by the intersection of Route 29 and U.S. 40.

Mike Huckabee, his wife said, "wakes up cheerful, which is not my thing. He's like toast out of a toaster."

She said he is strongly pro-life and feels the American health care system is "upside down" because it focuses more on treatment of disease rather than prevention. She spent as much time relating personal anecdotes about herself and her husband as about serious issues, though, advising several people in the audience to visit the campaign Web site for specifics.

She also said her husband believes the United States should be independent of foreign oil, following a question about Hugo Chavez's threat to cut off Venezuelan supplies.

She criticized the Bush congressional anti-recession package, saying it amounts to borrowing money from China to buy more Chinese products while running our debt higher.

-Larry Carson

Terps turn out for Obama rally
11:42 a.m.: Thousands of students lined up before dawn in the freezing cold outside the Comcast Center at the University of Maryland College Park for today's appearance by Sen. Barack Obama. The Democratic presidential hopeful was running late today, but that didn't upset the mood on campus, which was more like a Rolling Stones concert than a political rally. With chants of "Yes we can" ringing through the arena, Obama was set to take the stage around noon.

-Tom Pelton

Sunday, Feb. 10

Bill Clinton stumps at retirement community in Silver Spring
9:10 p.m.: Appearing at the Leisure World retirement community in Silver Spring late in the day, former President Bill Clinton took a hands-off approach toward Barack Obama, declining to criticize his wife's opponent or even mention him by name. All the same, he made it clear where his allegiances lie.

"This has been an interesting election and we don't have to be against anybody," the former president told about 400 seniors gathered in Leisure World's Crystal Ballroom. "But we do have to pick the person who can be our best president. ... If your choice is who's a proven change-maker, who's got the best ideas, then your choice is easy."

In a 50-minute speech, Clinton tried to turn his wife's losses in most of the caucuses thus far into a strength, saying that she represents the working-class people who can't take time off to go caucus. "Most of these people are working and busy," he said of Sen. Clinton's supporters.

The former president was joined at Leisure World by Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown. But perhaps the truest words came from the president of Leisure World's Democratic Club, Jay Harding, who said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we seniors vote, and everybody knows that."

Clinton peppered his remarks with jokes about the weather, his increased income since leaving the White House, and the hazards of aging. The crowd ate it up. Several voters said they were on the fence before Clinton's appearance but after were leaning Sen. Clinton's way.

"I'm 80 years old, and I want a chance to vote for a woman who has her knowledge and her experience," said Jean Spencer, who moved to Leisure World from Baltimore.

- Stephen Kiehl

Chelsea Clinton visits UM
3:21 p.m.: Trying to woo young voters, Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign dispatched the candidate's daughter, Chelsea, yesterday to the student union at the University of Maryland in College Park. Several hundred students and faculty filled the food court and the balcony above it to quiz Chelsea Clinton about her mother's stances on such issues as global warming and college affordability.

"Hillary's got the experience we need for the change we want," said Patrick Lambert, a 21-year-old student at Howard Community College whose band, U-Forces, played for the event.

Chelsea Clinton, 27, has crisscrossed the country visiting college campuses, vocational schools and young professional events to target the 18- to 35-year-old voter set. Republican presidential contender Mike Huckabee visited the Maryland university Saturday, and Clinton's Democratic rival Barack Obama is scheduled to be there today.

Andrew M. Friedson, student body president, said there has been a "groundswell" of excitement among students. "Until now the political figures were figments of radio and TV, but with the candidates coming here, it makes it real," he said, adding that while he plans to vote for Obama, he wanted to see Chelsea Clinton speak. "This shows that candidates care about Maryland and students here."

When asked about Obama's appeal, Chelsea Clinton said: "I'm really proud of the broad base of support that my mom also has inspired."

Joseph Sit, a 21-year-old chemical engineering major, said he's still undecided. While he said he likes Hillary Clinton's positions on health care and the economy, he's concerned that she voted for the Iraq War as a senator. He also said he appreciates Obama's message of change, though he worries about what kind of influence he will be able to wield in Washington.

"She has a more realistic view of what to expect in the presidency," Sit said of Hillary Clinton.

-Laura Smitherman

Former First Daughter hits Belvedere
3:14 p.m.: Let's give Chelsea Clinton this, at least: She was on time. In fact, the former First Daughter was a little early for her tour of Belvedere Square in Northeast Baltimore this afternoon. There have been a fair number of jokes on the campaign trail about Bill Clinton's notorious lateness -- jokes often told by emcees killing time as crowds wait for Hillary Clinton -- but apparently it's not hereditary.

Chelsea toured the shopping center, shaking hands and posing for pictures. She commented on a man's bean soup at Atwater's. "That looks good," she said with a broad smile. "We really need your vote."

She did not take any questions from the press.

Belvedere has become quite the political stomping ground lately. In city politics, it was the place where former City Councilman Kenneth N. Harris Sr. announced his candidacy for council president last year and also where Gov. Martin O'Malley chose to endorse Stephanie Rawlings-Blake for the same post. Yesterday, O'Malley held a rally there for Clinton.

On hand to see Chelsea were former Attorney General Joe Curran, his brother, Councilman Robert Curran, Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke and a couple of O'Malley's children.

-John Fritze

Saturday, Feb. 9

Clinton campaign to sweep across Maryland tomorrow
3:50 p.m.: It's not clear whether Bill Clinton has been a help or a hindrance to Hillary Clinton's campaign this year, but, either way, the 42nd president is expected to draw big crowds as he makes his way across Maryland Sunday.

Clinton's campaign released a schedule that puts Bill Clinton in Upper Marlboro at 11 a.m., Catonsville at 1 p.m., Baltimore at 2:30 p.m. and Silver Spring at 5:30 p.m. The Baltimore rally will take place at 7900 New Battle Grove Road.

Bill Clinton has been making strategic pre-primary swings through the states -- separate from Hillary -- for much of the campaign. He was in Southern Virginia most of today.

Also new on the schedule front: Clinton's campaign has announced that Hillary Clinton will be in Bowie Sunday, but the details of that event have not been announced. Given the schedule, it'll likely be late Sunday evening.

Last but not least, I stopped by Ryan's Daughter this afternoon -- a little late -- for a Clinton canvassing rally that included Gov. Martin O'Malley. The crowd was apparently so fired up after O'Malley spoke that they forbid themselves a Guinness and took off en masse to go door knocking.

Talk about dedication.

-John Fritze

Friday, Feb. 8

Obama rumors may be true
2:57 p.m.: Looks like those rumors of a Barack Obama visit to Baltimore Monday afternoon might just be true.

He is the subject of a traffic alert from the city's Department of Transportation, warning motorists that the candidate's visit on Monday could cause traffic jams during the afternoon and evening rush-hour. Remember the recent visit by President Bush that clogged city streets for hours?

"The Baltimore City Department of Transportation today announced that motorists traveling in the downtown vicinity on Monday, February 11, 2008 between 1:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. should expect heavy traffic volumes during afternoon and evening rush. Authorities have indicated that more than 5-thousand additional motorists will converge on the Baltimore Arena for the Rally for Presidential Candidate Barack Obama sponsored by the Obama Maryland Campaign."

Transportation officials sent out a revised release a bit later, reminding people to use public transportation.

-Andrew A. Green

Clinton goes on air
10:21 a.m.: Hillary Clinton's campaign announced this morning that it has started running two television advertisements in Maryland - her first here. Both focus heavily on the economy and have been used in other states. In one, Clinton speaks directly to viewers as the camera shows folks working on construction and other jobs. In the second, a guy is skydiving - his fall a metaphor for the economy. You can see the first ad here and the second here.

-John Fritze

McCain in Halethorpe
8:55 a.m.: The threadbare condition of John McCain's back-from-the-dead campaign was apparent in Baltimore County last night just hours after he became the presumptive nominee.

McCain decided to keep a commitment to speak to a Baltimore County Republican dinner, even though he accepted when he thought rival Mitt Romney would also be there. Romney was first to agree to the offer, but he suspended his campaign yesterday and promptly canceled the appearance.

Local Republican leaders were ecstatic that this would be the first outside-the-beltway appearance of the Arizona senator since his nomination was virtually guaranteed. But McCain entered the American Legion hall without the trappings of a presidential frontrunner.

Secret service protection may soon be on its way, but there was none of it last night in Halethorpe (or Arbutus, if you ask Bob Ehrlich, who insisted the hall is in his hometown, and not the neighboring community).

The lack of security is in stark contrast to the protection afforded his Democratic rivals. As a former first lady who is vigilant about letting the press get near, Sen. Hillary Clinton keeps a phalanx of security around her. Sen. Barack Obama, too, gets secret service protection because of undisclosed threats made against him early in the campaign.

But McCain walked right through the function hall, winding through tables where hungry Republicans were waiting for his speech so they could hit the buffet lines serving roast beef and turkey.

McCain hardly had time to retool his stump speech to reflect his new status. His comments were heavy on support for veterans, and one of his biggest applause lines came when he promised that veterans would receive a plastic card that would allow them to get medical treatment wherever they want, not from Veterans Administration facilities that may be hours away. The man who rails against excessive Washington spending did not say how the program would be paid for.

After the 7:15 p.m. speech, McCain departed quickly.

Clinton and Obama normally climb into the back of large, dark sport utility vehicles (often Fords) with tinted windows, which are then part of a motorcade that whisks them away. McCain last night entered the front passenger seat of an Audi A4 (Republicans riding in foreign cars?) with Alabama license plates. The car had a high-end rack on top, and seemed more appropriate for hauling a roadbike to nearby Patapsco State Park than carrying a potential president. The car left alone for the ride back to Washington.

After McCain left, several young political operatives working on the campaigns of the 1st Congressional District could be heard snickering in the lobby about the motley appearance of McCain's few staffers.

Still, those staffers were working for the certain Republican nominee, while the critics were not.

-David Nitkin

Kumar stumps for Obama
6:40 a.m.: Actor Kal Penn, star of the Harold & Kumar movies, House and 24, will visit Maryland campuses today to stump for Barack Obama before the upcoming Maryland primary on Tuesday. Penn has been actively supporting Obama since the Iowa caucuses.

Penn will visit Towson University's Paws Cafe, on the first floor of the University Union, from 10:50-11:50 a.m.; Johns Hopkins University's Arellano Theater in Levering Hall from 12:20-1:20 p.m.; and the Nyumburu Cultural Center at the University of Maryland, College Park, from 3:40-4:40 p.m.

-Dan Rodricks

Thursday, Feb. 7

On stump, Clinton addresses college costs
5:47 p.m.: At least one part of Hillary Clinton's stump speech resonated strongly with the large crowd that turned out for her in Arlington today: reducing college tuition. That's because a large portion of the audience was made up of students at the school where Clinton spoke, Lee High School.

"The student loan companies are ripping off young people and their families," Clinton told the young people, who were enthusiastic despite waiting several hours in the gymnasium for Clinton to arrive. "Let's make college affordable again."

Among other platform points on the issue, Clinton has vowed to help pay for college -- up to $10,000 a year, per student -- for those who agree to two years of public service. She also talked about increasing tax credits for parents of college students.

One small problem: Though many of the students liked what they heard, many who spoke to The Sun said they are not registered to vote.

-John Fritze

Ehrlich expected to endorse McCain
4:58 p.m.: Former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. is expected to endorse Sen. John McCain for president tonight during a Republican Party dinner near the governor's hometown, sources tell The Sun.

Ehrlich had been a Mid-Atlantic chairman for the campaign of former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, but had not announced a preferred candidate after Giuliani withdrew from the race following the Florida primary.

Ehrlich, a one-term governor who maintains a weekly radio show and is said to be contemplating a political comeback, said in a statement that he was planning to "accompany" McCain to the Baltimore County Republican Party dinner tonight in Halethorpe, near where the former governor grew up in Arbutus. McCain's campaign also said that there was a significant Maryland endorsement coming today, hours after former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney withdrew from the contest.

Sources say that Ehrlich will make the endorsement at the Halethorpe American Legion post, where the dinner is being held.

- David Nitkin

Clinton supporters get early start
10:10 a.m.: Political campaigns everywhere tend to bring out devotees, and few were more dedicated to a cause this morning than Carma Wilson and Marcia Massey. Both women were standing in the entrance tunnel to a Montgomery County Metro stop before sunrise, shaking off the cold as they shook hands for Hillary Clinton.

Both women, who are in their 50s, said this was the first time they have been actively involved in a campaign.

"I've just known all along from the time she was first lady that someday she was going to be president," said Massey, 59, of Aspen Hill. "It's been fun. It's been inspiring."

Clinton is expected to campaign in Arlington this afternoon. Even though she has not announced the details of any personal visit to Maryland, her campaign is ramping up efforts to get out the vote.

-John Fritze