Prometheus 6

"President Bush was an albatross around the necks of both Ehrlich and Steele," [F. Michael Higginbotham, professor of law at the University of Baltimore] said. "Steele tried to distance himself but he didn't do so enough. And Ehrlich never distanced himself."

Specifically, Steele's loss could be attributed to the fact that he "did not appeal to the concerns of Blacks," Higginbotham added.

"I think the Republican Party made a mistake in running people perceived as having style but no substance," he said.

Black vote crushes Republicans
O'Malley, Cardin win
By Dorothy Rowley
AFRO Staff Writer

During the state races, a bit of history was made when Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, GOP candidate for the senate race -- and the first Black Marylander elected statewide -- garnered one-third of the votes in Prince George's County, which is 61 percent African American. But it was Democrat Ben Cardin who proved victorious in that race -- which was close --with Steele formally conceding defeat the day after the elections.

Republican Gov. Bob Ehrlich also conceded defeat early Wednesday to Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, who will be sworn in as new governor in January.

Although Ehrlich said he remains in conflict with O'Malley's liberal views, he vowed to work with his successor to help make the transition at the helm of state government a smooth one.

The results, said F. Michael Higginbotham, professor of law at the University of Baltimore, reflected a widespread negativity towards the GOP or more succinctly, the "Bush factor."

"President Bush was an albatross around the necks of both Ehrlich and Steele," he said. "Steele tried to distance himself but he didn't do so enough. And Ehrlich never distanced himself."

Specifically, Steele's loss could be attributed to the fact that he "did not appeal to the concerns of Blacks," Higginbotham added.

"I think the Republican Party made a mistake in running people perceived as having style but no substance," he said.