Release: Senator McCain wins Maryland primary - Unpopular O’Malley fails to help Senator Clinton

MD GOP Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2008

SENATOR McCAIN WINS MARYLAND PRIMARY
Unpopular O’Malley Fails To Help Senator Clinton

ANNAPOLIS—Republicans and Democrats in Maryland voted today in their party’s primary election. Senator John McCain won the statewide vote among Republicans. In the Democrat race, Barack Obama beat Senator Hillary Clinton.

On May 9, 2007, Governor Martin O’Malley endorsed Senator Clinton for president. O’Malley’s approval ratings have plummeted in recent months with only one-third of Marylanders approving of the job he is doing. Many Marylanders, including Democrats, believe that O’Malley is not trustworthy. O’Malley has been campaigning for Senator Clinton all weekend, and she has now lost the statewide vote in Maryland.

Dr. Jim Pelura, Chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, released the following statement:

“Senator John McCain has won two more states and the District of Columbia this evening and is that much closer to locking up the nomination to be the Republican candidate for president. Maryland Republicans have shown that they will unify behind Senator McCain as our Commander-in-Chief and as our Party’s standard-bearer. To win in November, we must all rally behind Senator McCain and beat whoever the Democrats put forth – whether it be Senator Clinton, who nobody trusts, or Barack Obama, who lacks the experience to be Commander-in-Chief.

“Martin O’Malley, who was expected to carry the state of Maryland for Senator Clinton, has come up short again. The unpopular governor is not trusted by Marylanders, including Democrats, and his effectiveness has been called into question. His involvement in the Clinton campaign is a liability, and any candidate that relies on O’Malley in the future will suffer the same fate.

“The Maryland Republican Party thanks the hard work and dedication of the election judges and workers today. It is tiring, but extremely important work. They were called upon to extend their already long days to accommodate voters stuck in traffic, and the Maryland Republican Party is grateful for their service to Maryland and to their nation.”

Related:
Maryland Primary Results
Maryland Polls closing at 9:30 due to weather
40% turnout in Maryland Primary
Liveblogging the Maryland Primary
Inside Charm City 2008 Updates

Other blogging of tonight’s results:
Outside the Beltway
Michelle Malkin
Instapundit