The Fighting Fireman Harry Jarin Surges on the strength of his "Unleash The Cracken” strategy. Since Harry launched the campaign plan he has passed Wala Blegay and Rushern Baker and is very close to passing Quincy. As he moves up on Quincy and Harry Dunn weakens Quincey’s campaign gets more reckless and desperate.
One veteran Maryland political observer offered a blunt assessment this week: the most significant late movement in the race may not be coming from television advertising or endorsements at all.
Instead, it may be coming from voter backlash.
Questions surrounding Quincey Bareebe’s campaign continue to circulate among activists and political insiders, while criticism of some outside progressive organizations has grown increasingly intense.
Several pro-Israel Democrats and Jewish community activists have argued that parts of the campaign surrounding the race have crossed the line from legitimate criticism of Israeli government policy into rhetoric they view as hostile toward Jewish voters and Jewish political participation.
Whether voters agree with that characterization remains a matter of debate.
What is becoming harder to ignore, however, is the political effect.
A STRANGE BENEFICIARY OF THE BACKLASH
The most surprising beneficiary may be Harry Jarin.
Jarin, who was largely an afterthought earlier in the campaign, has emerged as one of the few candidates showing visible late momentum.
That development is creating an unusual dynamic.
Some observers believe voters uncomfortable with the increasingly bitter ideological warfare surrounding the race are beginning to view Jarin as an acceptable progressive alternative.
In other words, voters who want a progressive candidate but are uncomfortable with the harshest rhetoric coming from some activist circles may be finding a home in the Jarin campaign.
WHEN MOVEMENT MATTERS
Whether that movement is enough to fundamentally reshape the race remains unclear.
But political campaigns are often decided in the final weeks by candidates who catch a wave of momentum while others remain stagnant.
Boafo still appears to hold the strongest position.
Dunn still occupies the most obvious challenger lane.
But Jarin increasingly looks like the candidate with the most upward momentum, and in politics momentum often matters as much as money.