February 28th

Keeping up with the candidates!

 

Mayor Tony Williams says he is not yet prepared to endorse a candidate to replace him but its clear he prefers Linda Cropp over Adrian Fenty. At his Press conference last Wednesday Williams again pointed to Cropp’s experience and willingness to partner with the Mayor on baseball and other issues.

While careful to never mention Fenty by name, the Mayor expressed concern over someone who has never run anything and seems intent on dismantling what the Williams administration has accomplished.

 

I called Adrian Fenty for a response; It might surprise some people to read that Fenty says he is not running against City Hall!

The Ward four sophomore Councilman says “most people see him as building on the progress of the current administration”. Fenty adds that “The mayor’s weaknesses are my strengths”  “He’s gotten tired on the job, He doesn’t get out in the community”.  

 

What do you think? Is this a different Adrian Fenty? Does the Mayor’s endorsement of Linda Cropp help or hurt her candidacy?  I think Cropp is in a tough situation! She clearly has been a partner as Council Chairman in the District’s progress, but will voters give her the credit? Is here experience in public office a plus or a minus?

Its clear the business community is hedging its bets…wanting Cropp to win but fearing a Fenty victory so they are donating to both camps.

 

We keep hearing talk of Fenty’s energy..Is that another word for youth. He says no! “Rudy Guliani had energy. Atlanta’s Shirley Franklin has energy says Fenty!

 

Here’s a prediction!  look for Linda Cropp to display more energy when she kicks off her spring campaign next month.

This race is just getting started!  

After The DC Mayoral Debates...

Hope you watched the first DC Democratic Mayoral debate on WUSA9 on Wednesday Feb. 15th…I’ve got some observations and want to hear from Channel 9 viewers.

First off, Adrian Fenty came off looking pretty much like the front runner that he has become in a lot of people’s conversations. The one private poll that I have seen has him comfortably ahead with double-digit support. On TV that morning Fenty at times seemed to disappear from the debate unless Andrea Roane and I had specific questions directed at him.

Linda Cropp on the other hand was in the thick of the broadcast almost from beginning to end. Cropp comes in second in that private poll and certainly within striking distance of Fenty; While listening to Cropp I kept thinking… with Tony Williams not running Cropp has become the status quo candidate. If you like how things are going, vote Cropp! If you are really angry about some things, you are probably looking at one of the other candidates.

Vincent Orange remains an enigma! The ward five councilman came across as sharp and very much in control of his facts. Attacking Cropp on her days as School Board President seemed to be a reach. How long ago was that? And didn’t Cropp shoot back that test scores actually went up when she was on the Board? How about this scenario! Most people feel Orange can’t win...but what if he hangs in the Mayoral race, getting a lot of media attention (like the Channel 9 debate) then declares that he will drop out and run for Council Chairman?

Marie Johns the former Venison President will need a lot of help to move up in this campaign. Colby King of the Washington Post likes her! That has people talking about a Washington Post endorsement much like Sharon Pratt Kelly used to win office as an outsider prior to Marion Barry’s fourth and final term in Office. Maybe! Are voters as mad as they were when Kelly was swept into office? Ms. Johns did very well in the TV debate except when she lit a match under Chairman Cropp by accusing the Council of dragging its feet on the baseball stadium lease deal.

Michael Brown is the least known of the Democratic Mayoral candidates if you believe the private poll and a Channel 9 survey that asks voters merely who they favor in the contest. Brown says he’ll have position and policy statements in the future. He’s smooth on TV; but he’ll need a lot more to get separation from Johns and Orange.