By Adam Pagnucco.
Congressman David Trone, who is running for U.S. Senate, has released a video advertising his endorsement by the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA). This is one of the first of many efforts by the Trone campaign to tout his support from one of the most influential organizations in Maryland.
When I evaluate an endorsement, I ask three questions. First, how well is the endorsing organization known to voters? Second, besides providing its name and logo, how much tangible help does the endorsing organization provide to the candidates it supports? And third, how well is the candidate positioned to leverage the endorsement with his or her own resources?
This endorsement ranks highly on all three measures. MSEA is a prominent organization and its members – public school teachers – are respected by the public. MSEA’s affiliates wield the Apple Ballot, distributing it across many polling locations around the state, and the union has also sent mail and digital communications supporting its endorsees. Finally, Trone has all the resources he needs to publicize the endorsement on TV, in mail, through digital and through field. For similar reasons, MSEA was critical to getting Wes Moore through a tight gubernatorial primary last year and they will be immensely helpful to Trone.
Trone’s video appears below. Expect similar materials in your mailbox soon.