Senate Candidates Appeal To Voters In Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Six months away from the Maryland Democratic primary, the first television campaign ads hit the air in the contentious race to replace retiring Senator Barbara Mikulski.

Pat Warren reports the target is Baltimore.

The Senate Democratic primary, so far something of a neighborhood feud taking place in the Washington suburbs, is spreading to the Baltimore area.

Senate candidates Chris Van Hollen and Donna Edwards are congressional representatives from Montgomery County and Prince George's County. Voters are just getting to know them here.

"Son of a Baltimore Native" is the identifier--Van Hollen is the first to introduce himself by television campaign ad in a spot that started airing in Baltimore Monday.

Political analyst Matthew Crenson expects Baltimore to be strategic to both campaigns.

"Both of the leading candidates that now have declared have come from the Washington suburbs where they're well known, and most of the voters have already made up their minds. But the Baltimore area electorate is still in play," Crenson said.

Van Hollen's ad likely puts his face out front.

"I will admit that the voters in Baltimore don't know me, but they're going to come to know me," Edwards said.

There's a long campaign ahead.

We're still waiting for Baltimore's Elijah Cummings to announce whether he's running for Senate.

Cummings is expected to announce his decision by the end of the month.