For a while there, it was beginning to look like the Baltimore Democratic political machine had created a convincing aura of inevitability around its choice, the white Ben Cardin, leaving challenger and former NAACP president Kweisi Mfume with little hopes or media attention. But there's a possible intra-party backlash in the making on the issue of race, according to the Washington Post:

"A growing number of African Americans, including activists and some elected officials, say there has been a backlash to the swift support that gathered behind Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin's candidacy for the U.S. Senate...

"Over the past month, the perception that white leaders of the Democratic Party were conspiring to deliver Cardin the nomination has created a fresh well of support for Mfume, whose fundraising has lagged far behind Cardin's. That was evident in comments from prominent black leaders, including four of Baltimore's six state senators and Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D), who all recently endorsed Mfume.

"Also, a group of 300 black Democrats in Montgomery County mailed a letter to 28 elected officials from their county -- all of them white -- calling their quick endorsement of Cardin hasty and inconsiderate of black constituents. The Democratic primary for the seat being vacated by Paul S. Sarbanes (D) is still nine months away.

Read on...