We're now just over three weeks away from Maryland's Democratic primary, and we have new confirmation that the Senate contest remains close from an unexpected source: Rep. Chris Van Hollen himself. On Friday, Van Hollen released a poll conducted by Garin-Hart-Yang that puts him up just 45-40 on fellow Rep. Donna Edwards. The most recent prior poll, published a couple of weeks ago, had Edwards up 34-28, but that was an independent survey taken for the Baltimore Sun; Van Hollen's new data, by contrast, is from his own internal poll, which means these are pretty much the best numbers his campaign can come up with.
That's not a strong sign for Van Hollen, especially considering the wide fundraising advantage that had allowed him to dominate the airwaves. Now Van Hollen is expanding the air war further, with his first foray on to TV in the expensive D.C. media market. Judging by the most recent upload on his YouTube account, he's airing this spot, which tries to cram in a million different issues: the environment, education, the NRA, Planned Parenthood, Social Security, Wall Street. That sort of kitchen-sink approach tempts lots of candidates but risks a muddled message when you're introducing yourself to voters.
And while Van Hollen has also locked down far more endorsements than Edwards, she did just get the support of one prominent Marylander, former NAACP head Ben Jealous. Notably, Jealous himself had considered a bid for this very same Senate seat last year.