Could Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Run For Governor In 2014?
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Mounting speculation over the 2014 governor's race raises the question: Will voters see Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake on the ballot?
Political reporter Pat Warren has more on the influence Rawlings-Blake could have in the race.
On the ballot or backing a candidate, the mayor has a lot going for her.
Expect Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to create some excitement of her own in the months leading up to the 2014 governor's race.
The November election results prove the Democratic Party owns the state, and she packs a one-two punch of diversity and geography that could make her an attractive running mate for candidates like Attorney General Doug Gansler and Howard County's Ken Ulman who hail from the D.C. suburbs.
"Anybody who wants to win should be very eager to recruit Rawlings-Blake as a candidate for Lt. Governor Anthony Brown," said Matt Crenson, political expert.
But can she be recruited?
"While it's flattering to be considered, I really don't have an interest. I'm a big booster for the state of Maryland, and I feel the best way for me to do it is in my role as mayor," Rawlings-Blake said.
Lt. Governor Brown, from Prince George's County, has the backing of Gov. O'Malley and the mayor, making it unlikely that she would run at the top of the ticket as a candidate for governor.
"Mayor Rawlings-Blake and Gov. O'Malley are jointly sponsoring a fundraiser for Brown this Friday, so it would be kind of awkward for her to turn around and run against him," Crenson said.
But two years is a long time.
"I think she's just going to lie low for a while and see how things break," Crenson said.
A recent Sun poll shows she has higher voter identification and favorability in the Baltimore area than any of the mentioned candidates.
Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot was considering a run for governor but announced Tuesday he will run for re-election to the comptroller's office.
