Eileen Rehrmann's decision to quit Maryland's Democratic gubernatorial primary was a surprise only because of its timing on Monday. Despite appearances around the state, endorsements by two high-profile Democratic leaders and some fancy full-color mailings, the Harford County executive just couldn't make headway in the polls.
Rehrmann's campaign was hampered from the start because it was well-known that she'd originally planned to run for comptroller, and withdrew only after the well-loved Louis Goldstein reversed himself and announced he would run again.
And although being endorsed by Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke and Prince George's County Executive Wayne Curry may have brought her some support from black voters, it probably didn't help with other Marylanders who've noticed that every time Baltimore gets $1 in state funds, city officials whine that it should have been $1.50 instead.
Perceptive Marylanders may also remember that although P.G. County also complained the amount of state funding it got this year, officials there are short of cash in part because they can't persuade their own citizens to lift a property-tax cap.