As Peter noted, Michael Steele has won the endorsement of prominent African-American Democrats in Prince Georges County. A few snippets from the articles:
Ron Walters, a political science professor at the University of Maryland, said the endorsements could be significant. "This is going to go through the black community like a rocket," he said. "It’s going to be the talk of the county, the state, maybe even the nation."***
"The party acts as though when they want our opinion they’ll give it to us," said [Wayne K.] Curry, Prince George’s first black county executive. "It will not be like that anymore."
***
Other Maryland Democratic leaders -- such as U.S. House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer, Prince George’s County Executive Jack B. Johnson and Delegate Anthony G. Brown of Prince George’s County, who is running for lieutenant governor -- declined to comment.
A Cardin campaign spokesman did not return calls.
Memo to Republicans (channeling Warren Zevon): Send lawyers and money; hold the guns.
The Democratic party, official and unofficial, simply cannot allow Steele to win, and I don’t believe he’ll be allowed to win. Watch Bill Clinton in the next several days. My guess is that if Cardin is really in trouble, the "first black president" will be used heavily in this race. Professor Knippenberg’s reference to lawyers is spot-on. The Dems will try to steal this one if it’s close enough.