Democrats make the best candidates

Josh Rales, a Democratic candidate for Maryland's U.S. Senate seat, paid a drug-treatment center in Baltimore to drive its recovering addicts to last week's debate in College Park, where they held signs supporting his campaign.

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"Hairstylist Isabelle Goetz...has collected $3,000 in recent months to clip the former first lady’s locks...Clinton paid out another $3,000 to Hollywood makeup artist Barbara Lacy for eye-lining and other makeup work..."

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Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D) failed to appear at two televised debates over the weekend, fueling criticism from two opponents who are challenging the controversial incumbent in a July 18 primary in the Georgia's 4th District.

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Rep. Cynthia McKinney was a no-show this week in the U.S. House, as WSB Washington Correspondent Jamie Dupree reports that the Georgia Democrat missed all four days of legislative business and every vote on the House floor as well.

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MARYLAND: BAD PRESS (REALLY BAD) FOR SENATE HOPEFUL:
Unemployed international business consultant and USAF veteran David Dickerson (D) was a little-known candidate in the open US Senate race. Today, he's finally grabbing lead headlines across the state ... but not for anything good. Baltimore Police arrested Dickerson over the weekend on charges he raped and assaulted his 19-year-old Latvian wife. According to WBAL-TV, police were called to the hospital when Dickerson's wife Anna reported she had been raped. According to the TV station, "the victim said she and her husband met in her home country of Latvia and married last year when she was 18. She told police that shortly after moving back to the United States, she was deprived of food and physically abused -- even after becoming pregnant ... she was forced to have sex against her will many times and was beaten if she did not submit to her husband's wishes. After an alleged assault by her husband on July 16, the victim said she called 911. She said her husband allegedly raped and beat her before medics could arrive." Anna's mother in Latvia is raising the couple's 2-month old child. According to the police report, Dickerson told the officers Anna was "crazy in the head," denied all charges, and said his wife is simply seeking to remain in the US. In response, police charged Dickerson with three sex crimes. After his arrest, Dickerson posted $100,000 pre-trial bond. In a rather ironic twist, retrospectively, Dickerson proclaimed on his campaign website "we need to renew our respect for ... family values ... [rebuild] the moral fabric of our Democratic Party" and proclaims that "violence in our society is beyond worrisome ... we need to stop the strong from taking advantage of the weak."

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VERMONT: DEMS FOR BERNIE (WHETHER HE LIKES IT OR NOT):
Congressman Bernie Sanders (Independent) -- a self-proclaimed socialist -- likes his political independence. He caucuses with the House Dems, but won't join the party. The DSCC is supporting him for the open US Senate seat, but Sanders said he wouldn't accept the Democratic nomination on the ballot. He helped create the Vermont Progressive Party many years ago, and is close to party leaders, but won't run under their banner either. All of this hasn't stopped the Dems from trying to give Sanders the Democratic nomination in the Senate race, over his objection. The Boston Globe reported State Democratic Chair Ian Carleton and other party leaders are organizing a signature drive to place Sanders on the ballot -- against three Dems who are actively seeking the nomination. "Bernie Sanders has by far the best chance of winning, and would work closely with and would respect Democratic leadership in Washington. Anyone who takes a practical look at Vermont politics will say that this is the best thing to do for the greater good here," explained said Carleton. If Sanders wins the nomination but then declines it, the Dems will go without a nominee on the November ballot. Sanders is already expected to win the seat -- and win in a landslide -- but this "No Democratic nominee" move would simply give him an even greater victory margin in November.

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