Question Regarding MoCo and Ehrlich and O'Malley's support.

[nickshepDEM]

1. How strong is O'Malley's support in MoCo? Ive heard rummor that he's not as strong there as he needs to be. Here is a quote from someone over at the Baltimore Sun forums.

"I disagree about MoCo. O'Malley's support there is very weak. Drive down Rt 29 out of Silver Spring, drive down Georgia Avenue, up Connecticut Avenue and count the Ehrlich and O'Malley signs in yards. You'll see yards dotted with 10 different Democrat signs, but they're always missing O'Malley's signs. There is a very good reason for that-- those that do support O'Malley are not enthusiastic in their support and a good number of them don't support him and aren't sure how they'll vote."

Any truth to this?

2. Did Ehrlich hit a homerun in MoCo with his support of the ICC? How much of an effect will Ehrlich delivering the ICC have on the gubernatorial race?

3. Are you seeing more support in MoCo for O'Malley than KKT in 2002?

[Sasha Undercover]

1. I don't think his

support is weak. That ICC thing helped Ehrlich, no doubt. But the folks in MoCo aren't exactly stupid.

His commercials run as regularly as Mr. Ehrlich's. On the other hand, we're feeling a bit taken for granted. And getting Mr. Brown to spend some time in places like Silver Spring might be a good idea.

[nickshepDEM]

2. Why feel taken for granted?

[Sasha Undercover]

3. Let me start with the obvious.

Every one of those Ehrlich signs that stands alone is a failure of the O'Malley campaign. If campaign workers were knocking on doors we would see O'Malley signs too.

I drive through a heavily -- 70% and higher -- democratic area of the county daily. I saw many Silverman and Leggett signs during the primary. I saw many Cardin and Mfume signs. I saw exactly three O'Malley signs on my daily route. I personally had to go to a lot of trouble to even find a bumper sticker.

Folks around here talk about it. My friends, of course, can't stand Ehrlich and wonder where O'Malley is. I can hunt down that answer for them, but that isn't the point is it?

[DaveinMD]

4. Signs

just aren't a real barometer of support in any campaign. I never saw a Ray Kight for Sheriff sign and he got over 66 percent of the vote.

O'Malley is very strong here. He'll do at least as well as KKT did in MoCo.

[nickshepDEM]

5. Not willing to say he'll do better? j/k

Honestly have you been impressed with his ground game there?

Are you guys seeing many TV ads yet?

[DaveinMD]

6. I did say at least

I think he'll do very well here. I don't see many tv ads period. I watch very little local tv. I mostly watch sports and my teams are NY teams so I don't see many local ads. The ads that I have seen by O'Malley have been very good.

[nickshepDEM]

7. What about the ICC?

From what you're hearing, did Ehrlich land a big positive with that?

[DaveinMD]

13. I don't really think so

both candidates support the ICC. I think its pretty much a dead issue and isn't moving voters in either direction. I think education is a much more important issue here right now. Also, Ehrlich's opposition to the purple line can't help him. 80 percent of county voters support the purple line.

[CC]

16. I went to the O'Malley's website

and requested a sign. Took about a week and a half but a very nice young man brought me signs Friday. I would of been willing to go get them somewhere since I am way out of the way. Poor guy had a hard time finding us and guess he isn't used to one lane bridges. He gave me 3 signs (two for our yard one for my mom) bumpers stickers and pamphlets to give out since I requested them. So if you want signs they are easy to get, and why not save some volunteer's time and money by requesting them online?

[kwassa]

8. Who calls Montgomery Country "MoCo"?????????????

I wish they would stop.

Nobody who lives there does.

it is like how people who never lived in California call it "Cali". None of the locals do.

Sorry, just a pet peeve of mine.

[nickshepDEM]

9. When I speak I say - Montgomery County, but its easier to type

MoCo. I sometimes do the same for Howard County. HoCo.

[LiberalEsto]

10. I do and I live here. nt

[kwassa]

11. Really? You're the first, for me.

how long you lived here?

[LiberalEsto]

12. Sixteen years

I know other people who use the term. But many people also say "Monkey County," which I don't like.

I think MoCo was originally a journalist's term, designed to fit tight headline spaces. I used to be a journalist, so maybe that's why I picked it up.

[Stinky The Clown]

14. I'm in Howard County, and I hear more than a few locals say 'HoCo'

in actual conversation.

I've been here for 26 years.

[Captain Hilts]

15. O'Malley wasn't in a primary campaign like candidates for other offices.

Hence, no signs.

They're popping up now.

[Sasha Undercover]

17. I just did

a 20 mile tour through the central county from the district line through Silver Spring, Bethesda, Rockville, Kensington and Olney. I saw exactly one O'Malley sign. I saw exactly two Ehrlich signs.

Oh and I've been around here longer than any of you and I've never heard MoCo. I find it pretty offensive actually.

[nickshepDEM]

18. That ain't good.

[DaveinMD]

19. All the Dem activists

were putting signs up for primary candidates. The Republicans had no contested primaries, so they got their signs up. And signs do not equal votes. Not even close. O'Malley will get between 62-70 percent in Montgomery County.

[nickshepDEM]

20. Lets hope. Ive been phone banking for O'Malley for a week or so now.

Ive made a committement. I will make at least 100 calls at campaign HQ's 4 days a week, every week, from now until election day. And I will canvas every Saturday morning from now until election day.

Thats how much I believe in his campaign.

I hope similar things are going on in Montgomery, Prince Georges, Howard, and Anne Arundel counties.

[DaveinMD]

21. I'm sure they are

that's a lot of campaign activity here.

[Sasha Undercover]

22. Of course signs

don't equal votes. But they influence the undecided and help GOTV.

[nickshepDEM]

23. I tend to agree.

They also give off a certain perception of how a candidate is viewed in a neighborhood. If a potential undecided or even loyal supporter sees nothing but Ehrlich signs (especially those 4 x 8's) in his/her neighborhood, he/she may think - he must be an ok guy if my neighbors support him or that O'Malley guy must stink because none of the neighbors support him.

Its all about perception.

[DaveinMD]

24. signs do not influence the undecided

they are not a persuasion technique in any way, shape or form. They are the biggest waste of any campaign and serve as more of a function to placate activists who ask where are your signs? Money would be better served going to mail, phones, tv and radio.

[nickshepDEM]

25. I think its all about perception.

You wouldnt believe how many times a week I hear from my parents, grandparents, friends, etc, (most are O'Malley supporters)... "Ehrlich's going to win - his signs are all over the place."

Dundalk is plastered with 4x8 Ehrlich signs. O'Malley has a respectable #, but not nearly as many.

[DaveinMD]

26. and that perception is often wrong

how often did we hear on DU about Kerry having all these signs up in GOP areas last time. He got smoked in those areas.

Sauerbrey had a lot more signs up than Glendening in 98 in Montgomery. The vote wasn't even close. Signs are way overvalued in campaigns.