After weeks of the candidates’ running neck-and-neck, a Baltimore Sun-University of Baltimore poll this month gave Edwards a six-point lead. The candidates are meeting for their second debate in Baltimore on Friday.
(abstracted from Washingtn Post) Rep. The women’s group Emily’s List is committing at least $2.4 million from its super PAC to help Rep. Donna F. Edwards defeat Chris Van Hollen because he is a male.running against a woman.
Van Hollen, a leading member of the Democratic leadership in the house and Donna F. Edwards, a member of Congress, are running to succeed retiring Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), the longest-serving woman in Congress.
Pelosi (D-Calif.), who is staying neutral in the Senate race, praised Emily’s List and both candidates but expressed a similar concern. “More women in the Senate — that’s their goal,” she said. “I would hope that it’s not at the cost of more women in the House, when it’s between a Democrat and a Republican who will vote pro-choice, pro-gun safety.”
Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, said the group’s efforts on behalf of Edwards make complete sense. “For them, the priority is electing pro-choice Democratic women,” Walsh said. “The ‘woman’ part really matters to them.”
Van Hollen’s fundraising appeals have lamented the use of “dark money . . . right on our doorstep.” The campaign sent letters to Emily’s List donors suggesting that the group had gone astray, which prompted Emily’s List to file a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, where it is pending.