Could Mfume Challenge Sarbanes for Senate?

Outgoing NAACP pres/ex-Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D) "has vaulted to the front of the pack of potential successors" should Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D) choose not to run for re-election. One leading MD Dem said he is "80 percent sure" Mfume would challenge Sarbanes in a primary if Sarbanes sought a record-breaking sixth term. State Sen. Lisa Gladden (D), on Mfume: "He's in an enviable position. But the timing of his departure is interesting. It's at the time when a person who is interested in running for statewide office would start raising money." Since leaving Congress, Mfume has maintained his old campaign account, which had $99K CoH as of 9/30. Mfume's departure "has to be considered a blow to the handful of other ambitious" Dems who would consider running. Rep. Al Wynn (D-04) "has all but said he will run" if Sarbanes retires. Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-07), Ben Cardin (D-03) and Chris Van Hollen (D-08) "must also be considered potential candidates." Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley (D) is gearing up for a GOV run "but could pivot to join an open-seat Senate race." Maryland Gazette's Rascovar: "They're all going to be watching Kweisi now. I hate to use the trite phrase, but he's become the 800-pound gorilla." "Sarbanes has given no hint about his plans." He had just $22K CoH as of 9/30, "but has traditionally not begun raising money until the fifth year of his terms." Sarbanes spokesperson Jesse Jacobs: "We just had an election a few weeks ago and it's too early to say anything about 2006." Many Dem leaders "believe Sarbanes will run again in two years, when he will be 73 years old" (Billings/Kurtz, Roll Call, 12/6). The Hotline December 6, 2004