Political Role-Reversal: Ehrlich and O'Malley Debate

What a Difference Television Can Make

This weekend Maryland's Gubernatorial debate between Baltimore Mayer Martin O'Malley (D-MD) and Governor Bob Ehrlich (R-MD) was played live on the radio. At first blush, O'Malley seemed to be faring well against Ehrlich, hitting all the points, but Ehrlich's brash radio personality had its appeal. It seemed like O'Malley's points were matched by Ehrlich's style.

Oh what a difference the medium can make. Tonight the debate was televised, and the difference could not have been more startling.

It was clear that no love was lost between the candidates, but any who feared Mayor O'Malley might let his famous anger show would be disappointed. O'Malley, who is sometimes criticized for letting his mouth get away from him, was calm and poised. It was Ehrlich who was on the ropes the entire time. The Governor pitched forward and back in his seat, rubbed his face with his hand, and looked like it was all he could do to fight off a sweaty upper lip.

The contrast was apparent from the opening statements alone. Ehrlich began by admitting that this election was a referendum on his incumbency and rattled off a list of his accomplishments that sounded more defensive than proud. O'Malley struck a Clintonian note, outlining large themes and talking about how he could use the things Marylanders have in common to help unite our state into action. Issue after issue, whether it was education, energy, taxes, or the environment, Ehrlich was on the defense. And while the Governor seemed to have a host of statistics at his fingertips, even the most astute viewer could get lost in the minutia.

Even when it came to crime - the very issue on which O'Malley has been under fire - it was O'Malley who scored punches while Ehrlich blocked. In a near role-reversal of the usual positions that Democrats and Republicans take when it comes to crime, it was O'Malley who launched into a passionate law-and-order tirade against repeat offenders and a failed parole system, while Ehrlich sputtered.

This was not the only role-reversal in the debate.