Given the speed of the news cycle these days, it might seem a little foolish to comment nearly a week later on last week’s Ward 3 forum.
But we’re going to do it anyway. Our initial impressions are still with us many days later.
Mayor Adrian Fenty seemed too stern and grumpy out of the box, staring down at his debate notes. What happened to that friendly smile and thumbs-up attitude that enchanted voters four years ago? The good news for him is that he finished strong, offering a ringing endorsement of Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee while opponent D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray waffled on whether he would keep her.
Gray is supposed to be the nicer guy who would be just as good a mayor as Fenty, just more pleasant to be around. But Gray was loud, stalking Fenty, pointing fingers and scowling too much for some uncommitteds in the audience.
When Gray walked over toward Fenty menacingly and shouted, “Let’s get it on,” you might have thought they were actually going to fight. Gray was fuming at what he saw as distortions of his record.
In the eyes of the Fenty campaign leaders, Gray’s defensiveness was a tactical victory for them. They were pleased that Gray spent much of his energy defending himself, especially his ties to the discredited Sharon Pratt years. (The former mayor has donated $1,100 to Gray’s campaign.) The Fenty group figures that every time Gray is linked to Pratt, it’s a good thing for Fenty.
And some, including the Notebook, were surprised that Gray began his opening remarks by saying he wanted to make it perfectly clear that he's “not a career bureaucrat.” But by saying that, it seemed to oddly reinforce the image, not erase it.
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The battleground in Ward 3 right now is not a question of whether Fenty or Gray wins a majority of the vote. The Gray campaign just needs to cut severely into what is thought to be Fenty’s strong lead in a ward that votes heavily. Some think securing maybe 30 percent of the Ward 3 vote will be enough for Gray to win citywide.
"Neither candidate offered much in terms of specifics, especially with regard to what issues affect Ward 3 or how citywide issues might affect Ward 3 voters uniquely,” said Tom Smith, chair of the Ward 3 Democrats and forum sponsor.
Smith had been a Gray supporter but now is neutral in the campaign. So that’s a loss for the Gray campaign.
"Every time there was a question on policy, Gray seemed to focus on process rather than on what direction a Gray administration would take,” Smith wrote to the Notebook after the forum. “In short, the forum has put me firmly in the undecided column. As you know, that's a big change for me. I see Gray still clinging to a campaign as the anti-Fenty. That strategy won't work in Ward 3.”
Smith said Fenty at least defended his positions. But Smith didn’t cut the incumbent any slack, either.
“Many people left feeling uncomfortable with both major candidates,” he said.
Here’s a memo to both campaigns: A good portion of the Ward 3 vote is still in play.
• Corner politics.
As the Notebook was driving home from the forum at 9:58 p.m., we were intrigued to see veteran community organizer Vernon Hawkins standing on a corner near the debate site. We had not seen him inside. He’s an unpaid volunteer for the Gray campaign, but his past association with Marion Barry is a liability in places like Ward 3.
• Campaign $$$$$.
Gray scored one big victory last week. His campaign reported raising $561,000 since late March. It was a good haul for a late-starting campaign. Gray listed just $371,000 left in the bank. But he showed he’ll have enough money to run a decent campaign if he watches the purse strings.
Fenty remains well ahead in fundraising. He reported having raised $4.3 million, with $3.2 million still in hand. That’s a lot of cash to send out mailings, buy media and carry your supporters to the polls on Election Day.
• This boo’s for you.
It seems it’s become the thing to do -- boo the mayor. But it's not surprising that there was a lot of booing at the D.C. Democratic State Committee convention Saturday. Fenty has marginalized a lot of those veteran Democratic activists, who make up the often-bickering party machinery.
• Control board returning?
We’re hearing a lot from some candidates about how the city’s spending will for sure lead to another federally imposed control board. Chief financial officer Natwar Gandhi pretty much dismissed that idea Friday on Kojo Nnamdi’s "Politics Hour" on WAMU.
Asked if city borrowing is endangering the city’s finances or paving the way for the return of the control board, Gandhi said, “No.” He has warned, though, that all city leaders need to start rebuilding the city’s rainy-day fund. When it comes to finances, there’s been a lot of rain.
• Surprise?
No. Just a note on a non-election matter, please. First lady Michelle Obama gave a great speech to the Anacostia Senior High School graduating class on Friday.
Predictably, she told the graduates, “No one’s in control of your destiny but you. You can do anything you put your minds to.”
Of course, she didn’t mention that those graduates aren’t able to vote for a real member of Congress. The Obamas -- both of them -- continue to treat our city’s lack of voting rights as a non-issue. Sad.
