As students on the sixth floor of LaPlata Hall rolled out of their beds Saturday morning, some still wearing their pajamas, they were greeted by an unexpected sight: Gov. Martin O’Malley’s extended hand and a league of student supporters, campaign employees, photographers, members of the media and Resident Life staff crammed into the dorm’s hallways.
While some students continued unperturbed past the governor, still wiping sleep from their eyes, others eagerly took the opportunity to shake O’Malley’s hand, pose for pictures and engage him in friendly conversation. As he made his way throughout North Campus about 11:30 Saturday morning with incoming university President Wallace Loh, O’Malley stopped to donate money to a student playing his guitar for Haiti outside the North Campus Diner and humored government and politics majors as they ran up to greet him.
But with the November gubernatorial elections looming and the primaries just around the corner, it wasn’t all fun and games — he still had a job to do. O’Malley is on the campaign trail.
When a university official announced there was a special guest in The Diner, the building went silent. O’Malley stood up on a chair and loudly told students about the importance he said he has placed on higher education, reminding them of the four-year tuition freeze that ended this fall and encouraging them to “be as smart as you can be” in their four years of college.
In November, candidates across the country will duke it out for spots in local, state and federal government. In this state, O’Malley is expected to face a rematch with former Gov. Robert Ehrlich, a Republican who served from 2003 to 2007. In 2006, O’Malley defeated Ehrlich by a 53 percent to 46 percent margin.
As O’Malley shook hands with students eating in The Diner, it was clear every vote counts.
According to a Rasmussen Reports poll, the two have been in a near deadlock since June. In an Aug. 17 poll,
O’Malley leads Ehrlich 45 percent to 44 percent, within the poll’s margin of error of 4 percentage points. Only 3 percent favored a different candidate in the race.
With the race still essentially tied, student groups are gearing up to campaign both on and off the campus.
Dan Borman, president of the university’s College Democrats chapter, said the group is planning “get out the vote” efforts for the September primary, but its primary focus will be on helping O’Malley’s campaign for the general election.
The Maryland Federation of College Republicans has officially endorsed Ehrlich in the gubernatorial race. The university’s College Republicans chapter is encouraging students to get involved and will be hosting meet-and-greets throughout the semester with candidates from across the state, according the chapter’s president, Sarah Martin.
“It is a great time, regardless of your political affiliation, to get involved in the political process,” Martin said.
At the federal level, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer will be running for re-election. Hoyer (D-Md.), a university alumnus who represents College Park, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1981.
In the primaries, he will be challenged by Sylvanus Bent and Andrew Gall. Four Republicans will compete for the chance to face off with the Democratic candidate in the general elections.
Paul Herrnson, the director of the Center for American Politics and Citizenship and a professor in the government and politics department stressed the importance of midterm elections, especially this year, and of students staying active in the process.
“The Democrats’ majorities in the House and Senate will most likely be cut significantly,” Herrnson said. “Control for those chambers may be up for grabs. … Students who support President [Barack] Obama’s and the Democrats’ agenda should be very interested because a poor showing for the Democrats will slow down or stop the progress on that agenda.”
Borman said that although state and federal elections tend to garner more media attention, local elections are equally important as they can have a profound effect on local communities.
“I think if students understand how much local politics affects them, then they can begin to get excited about it and get involved,” said Borman.
In Prince George’s County, officials ranging from the clerk of the circuit court to District 21’s delegates will be elected this fall.
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