Records In House Define Maryland Democrats- WaPo

[Olney Blue]

Senate Races
Records In House Define Md. Democrats
By Nick Anderson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 15, 2006; Page A01

Two Baltimore Democrats joined the House of Representatives on the same day in 1987. For nine years together in Congress, they usually voted the same liberal line. Both rose to prominence and influence.

But Benjamin L. Cardin and Kweisi Mfume carved sharply distinct profiles from the moment they arrived on Capitol Hill. The former became a bipartisan dealmaker on a powerful committee with oversight of tax, trade and health-care law. The latter took on urban housing and economic issues and became a major voice in Congress for black Americans.

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The many contrasts in their House careers suggest that the front-runners for their party's nomination in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes (D-Md.) would make different senators in style and substance.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081401432.html