By Adam Pagnucco.
Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks is trying to use Congressman David Trone’s negative TV ad to raise money, a commodity she desperately needs in an increasingly fierce U.S. Senate primary.
While Trone’s ad definitely ups the ante, Alsobrooks has been attacking him through email for weeks. And what makes Trone’s ad so compelling is that it’s not Trone who is attacking her – it’s some of her fellow elected officials in Prince George’s County. Trone is emphasizing his Prince George’s support not only through his newest ad but also a previous one and a mailer.
Trone is climbing a steep hill by trying to get votes in Prince George’s as Alsobrooks has won four straight elections there. In 2010, she beat Council Member Tom Dernoga in the state’s attorney primary by 21 points. In 2014, she ran uncontested in both the primary and the general. In 2018, she beat former Congresswoman Donna Edwards in the county executive primary by 37 points. And in 2022, she won the primary with 91% of the vote. While Trone’s play in Prince George’s is a daring one, one wonders if it’s the most efficient use of his resources. The MoCo analog is a candidate going after County Executive Marc Elrich in his home base of Takoma Park.
Alsobrooks’s blast email is reprinted below.
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Subject line: My opponent is using his millions to attack me
He knows what we know: We have all the momentum in this race and with your help, we’re going to win. Will you chip in to help us hit our $100,000 April fundraising goal and make it a reality?
While David Trone is busy going negative, our team is sticking with our campaign strategy and countering his efforts with our message of positivity and opportunity.
That’s the kind of thing folks want and deserve to hear, Adam: How each candidate would work to improve the lives of Marylanders and their families.
We were already up against millions in ads, but these negative attacks make it absolutely critical that we cut through the noise with our own message before Marylanders vote.
Will you chip in $25 toward our $100,000 April goal before tomorrow at midnight so we can boost our ads in every corner of Maryland?
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