Alan Brody

Friday, Sept. 29, 2006

BALTIMORE — The gubernatorial race is typically referred to as a two-man contest. The same is said of the U.S. Senate campaign.

But the general election ballot will include four choices for governor and three for Senate, rounded out by third-party candidates who acknowledge they play the part of David trying to topple Goliath.

About 150 of their supporters rallied at the University of Baltimore on Tuesday for a ‘‘Unity Convention” to promote issues, hone their message and, perhaps most importantly, raise money for cash-strapped campaigns.

John Low, treasurer for U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Zeese, was aiming to raise $30,000 by the end of this week.

‘‘That’s a drop in the bucket for a Senate campaign, but it’s a lot of money for us,” Low said as he appealed to each attendee to contribute $100. Zeese, who is not accepting PAC donations, reported having $16,000 in the bank in June. His opponents, Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele (R) and U.S. Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin (D) reported $3.1 million and $1.6 million, respectively, as of Aug. 23.

But Zeese, who is running under the Green, Populist and Libertarian party banners, is undaunted. ‘‘This is not a money campaign. This is an ideas campaign,” he said.

Zeese, a veteran activist from Takoma Park, will get a chance to articulate those ideas, joining Steele and Cardin on Tuesday at the Greater Baltimore Urban League for what he hopes will be the first of many debates.

‘‘I think you’ll see a big change in the level of support in the polls once I start getting in these debates,” he said. ‘‘... Voters want change and I’m the only non-status quo candidate.”

Supporters are energized that Zeese is being included in the race.

‘‘We have 100 kinds of toothpaste to choose from when we go to the grocery store,” said Patsy Allen, co-chairwoman of the Maryland Green Party. ‘‘We should have more than two Senate candidates to choose from.”

Like many third-party candidates in 2006, Zeese opposes the war in Iraq, calling for immediate troop withdrawal. He also says America should re-evaluate its support of Israel, supports universal health care and has proposed a ‘‘microtax” on the wealthiest 1 percent of the population.

‘‘I want to change the direction of the country and neither of the two parties are willing to make fundamental changes,” he said.

Although their numbers pale in comparison to the major political parties, independents represent the fastest-growing group of voters in the state and can determine the outcome of tight races. That’s why mainstream lawmakers recognize their importance.

Independents ‘‘act as a barometer of how the organized parties are doing,” said Del. Jean B. Cryor (R-Dist. 15) of Potomac. ‘‘I think when you see the number of independents grow, there’s a simple conclusion that there is a dissatisfaction with the Republicans and the Democrats. What they’re saying is I want to play, but I don’t want to play by your rules.”

Even so, the financial deficit still looms large.

‘‘Money is the mother’s milk of politics, and independent candidates rarely have enough to get their message out,” Cryor said.

More people believe that the Democratic and Republican parties are corrupt and controlled by special interests and big business, said Christopher A. Driscoll, the Populist Party’s gubernatorial nominee. ‘‘We need to put the people back in charge,” he said. ‘‘... We want to terminate the two-party duopoly that has trashed our democracy.”

The Green Party’s gubernatorial nominee, Ed Boyd, did not attend the rally.

Much of the evening centered on Zeese. Supporters donned ‘‘Zeese or Resist” T-shirts and ‘‘Zeese for Peace” signs were scattered throughout the auditorium.

Former presidential contender Ralph Nader fired up the crowd, urging them to change the system rather than just talk about issues. ‘‘I’m tired of diagnosing,” he said. ‘‘We’ve got to get over this idea of only talking small talk.”

But limited name recognition, little money and few other campaign resources often means third-party candidates are not on voters’ radar screen, said Paul Herrnson, a University of Maryland political science professor. They can serve as a ‘‘pressure valve” on the major parties to push a certain issue.

Could lightning strike for third-party candidates in Maryland?

‘‘Maryland is typical of virtually every state in the county in that it is inhospitable to minor parties,” Herrnson said. ‘‘I wouldn’t bet the farm on a Kevin Zeese victory.”