May 15, 2008 - 11:47am
Steele 'absolutely' wants to be governor, but will not run if Ehrlich does
By Kevin AgneseFormer Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R) told PolitickerMD.com Wednesday that he does want to be governor but will not seek the Republican nomination in 2010 if former Republican Gov. Bob Ehrlich enters the race.
"You don't have to worry about that," Steele said, referencing an Inside Edge post that speculated about the possible Steele/Ehrlich match-up. "I would definitely give him the nod."
"I'm not going to primary my friend," he added, saying Republicans "can't afford a bruising primary."
Ehrlich and Steele served together from 2003-2007.
Steele said he had not discussed the gubernatorial nomination with Ehrlich, but said they would likely have "future conversations" on the subject.
Steele's comments come one-week after he told the conservative magazine Human Events that he was "intrigued by the idea of running for governor."
"Do I want to be governor? Absolutely," Steele told PolitickerMD.com, but cautioned, "We don't know where the political landscape will be in two years."
Asked if he would seek the office if Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley's approval ratings remain low and Ehrlich decides against a bid, Steele said, "It would be worth looking at."
Last week, Ehrlich spokesperson Henry Fawell told PolitickerMD.com that it was "still too early to say" if the former governor will run again.
Beyond the political landscape, Steele said he would ask himself if "Maryland is ready for my brand of Republicanism," before entering the contest.
"I bring something different," he said.
In 2006, Steele lost his U.S. Senate bid to Ben Cardin (D-Baltimore) by a margin of 55 to 44 percent.
In what was perhaps a reference to that election and a possible indication of his future plans, Steele said, "After 30 years in politics the idea of getting beat up just because you're a Republican gets a little tiring."
Should he run for governor, Steele said, "I hope people can look beyond these silly labels and brands."
Steele has served as chairman of GOPAC, the conservative political action committee that trains Republican candidates to run for office, since February 2007.
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I love this. Martin
I love this. Martin O'Malley's flacks response to O'Malley passing the largest tax hike in Maryland is "Bob Ehrlich wasn't a saint either." The same people who campaigned under BushIsEhrlich and how evil Ehrlich was, our now using him as a measuring stick. My how times change!
I don't think the Republicans platform in Maryland is to hate Democrats. Saying that in reference to Ehrlich makes no sense. Half of his cabinet members were Democrats.
Cumberland? No taxes under Bob?
You are joking right?
Everyone knows he jacked up tons of taxes, fees and tolls...but they also know in western MD that their current Republicans had proposed a budget plan that spent the tax hikes you say people hate.
Your guys look a little dumb now...endorsing the tax hikes they claim are unpopular - by proposing to spend them - nice.
MIchael Steele is so
MIchael Steele is so dillusional. No one besides him would ever talk about him being Governor. He has failed at everything he has every tried; even the national Republicans cast him aside after his ridiculous senatorial campaign. I hope he does run for something in the future because it will gaurantee a Democratic win!!
The Republican party of
The Republican party of Maryland has a single-issue platform - "we hate democrats." But it doesn't work that way if you want to keep power in a very blue state though. They need to realize who the electorate is, and realize that constantly harping against any taxes, being anti-abortion, being overly pro-gun, and using immigrants and the mythical "wellfare queens" of Baltimore as their scapegoats for all economic problems is just not going to get them elected. They need to look to the liberal Republican governors of CT, RI, CA, etc. as a model for keeping office. Most of MD does not want another Reagan, no matter what the local Republican party says or would have you think.
People in Allegany County
People in Allegany County liked the Ehrlich/Steele Administration because taxes didn't go up and people were making more money. With O'Malley running Maryland people in Allegany County hate the current governor because people are making less money.
"After 30 years in politics
"After 30 years in politics the idea of getting beat up just because you're a Republican gets a little tiring."
Haha, I forgot how tough it was being a Republican when Reagan was president.
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