Lets Get it Started!

DC Council Chairman Linda Cropp is acting like a candidate already on the ropes! I interviewed the Council Chairman Monday and when I asked if she would win the Democratic primary for Mayor she didn’t say yes! When I rephrased the question to ask if she is confident, she didn’t say yes! She merely said she felt good! A Washington Post Poll says she trails Adrian Fenty by ten points. A WUSA-TV9 Poll says she’s behind by almost twenty points and one can easily get the impression from the Cropp campaign that the numbers are fairly accurate. The consensus builder has resorted to negative campaigning, attacking Fenty at a personal level, a clear sign according to several people I’ve talked with that Ms Cropp’s advisors feel she loses if the primary is held right now. Fortunately for Cropp there are three more weeks to go…and anywhere from 15 to 20 percent of the voters appear to be undecided.

Look for the Washington Post endorsement to either end the contest or prolong it. If the Post editorial board endorses Fenty, It’s over! He wins easily! If the Post endorses Cropp, The campaign continues, although the Chairman isn’t assured the democratic nomination, Fenty could still win. If Cropp gets the endorsement and a series of Post editorials supporting her candidacy, similar to the Post treatment of Sharon Pratt several years ago, the Chairman could still pull this primary out. I also talked to Fenty on Monday. He says the negative campaigning is sending voters his way. He too refuses to predict victory and says he’s running like he’s ten points behind