It’s one thing when vulnerable Democratic state senators in conservative districts are using images of Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) in their campaign literature – or when the committee to elect Democratic state senators does it on their behalf.
But it’s quite another when Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) uses a Hogan photo in his own campaign mailer – which is exactly what’s taking place now.
The first page of the mailer obtained by Maryland Matters shows a big picture of Miller and a smaller one of Miller and Hogan together at a bill signing, with the words, in all capital letters, “WORKING TOGETHER TO GET THINGS DONE.”
Another page features two pictures of Miller with law enforcement officers, and the message that as Senate president, Miller is “Working With Leaders in Both Parties to Keep Maryland Safe.”
Republicans fantasize about Miller, who has been Senate president for 32 years and has served in the chamber since 1975, being vulnerable. While that seems unlikely, his Southern Maryland district was one of nine state Senate districts with Democrats representing them that were carried by Hogan in 2014. The Republican took 52.7 percent of the vote there four years ago, and it would not be surprising to see his winning margin go up next year.
Needless to say, there is no mention of Democratic gubernatorial nominee Benjamin T. Jealous on this particular campaign literature. But Jealous is on Miller’s District 27 slate in the Prince George’s County section of the district, and the Senate president’s campaign literature reflects that there.