photo via the Washington Post
Today, Republican voters in Maryland will choose their favorite for presidential nominee, and there appears to be no question whatsoever that Mitt Romney will be that choice.
Still, as the Washington Post reports, the duration of the primary contest this year has given Maryland’s beleaguered Republicans cause for some excitement, affording them some degree of sway for a change — even if it is only a hair’s degree.
In any case, the past week or so of national attention has made for a nice vacation from the routine of more or less permanent marginalization for Maryland’s conservatives in a state with two Democratic senators, six Democratic representatives (of eight total), a Democratic governor, and a perilously high number of organic food stores.
On March 21st, Mitt Romney visited supporters in Arbutus (the hometown of former Maryland governor — and Romney’s follicular equal — Bob Ehrlich). A week later Ron Paul spoke to enthusiastic students at the University of Maryland, College Park, an institution Congressman Paul would probably dismantle, if he could, to use the buildings to house gold reserves.
Annapolis received Newt Gingrich a few days ago as part of what must be a farewell tour in disguise. On Monday, Frederick opened its arms to him before immediately closing its arms to prevent any Spanish speakers from showing up.
Much to the relief of Old Line State pornographers, Rick Santorum has devoted all his efforts to Wisconsin, which also holds is primary today.
So the Republican faithful will vote and hope for the best, while State party leaders, still high from shaking hands with the bigwigs, will return to Annapolis or to their outposts among the cattails and marshes of the Eastern Shore or in mountains of the western panhandle to sit cross-legged, like warlords, and wait patiently for the next Spiro Agnew or Bob Ehrlich.
Sure Romney will win Maryland’s vote, but has he won Maryland’s heart?
The Arbutus gig was his only stop here; we wanted to get to know the guy.
We wanted to see him prevent a gun homicide in West Baltimore today and hunt small varmints in Garrett County tomorrow.
We wanted to see him look as bored as we do at Civil War battlefields.
We wanted to see Mitt Romney pedaling a surrey down the boardwalk in Ocean City, a cup of Thrasher’s fries in one hand and Cal Ripken’s baseball glove on the other, distributing blue crabs to us like he was a GI giving candy to Iraqi children.
Anyway: Are you a Maryland Republican? (First, we’re sorry your political voice seems so often totally insignificant.) How do you feel about Mitt Romney, and what do you think he has to offer Maryland?
