The list of contenders for U.S. Senate in Maryland will soon grow longer, as a pair of deep-pocketed candidates who will stress career success outside of politics prepare to enter the race to replace retiring Paul S. Sarbanes.
Lise Van Susteren, a forensic psychiatrist who is the sister of Fox Television personality Greta Van Susteren, is scheduled to formally announce her candidacy this week. A Democrat, Van Susteren, 54, moved to Montgomery County from the District of Columbia less than two years ago.
Closing in on a similar announcement is Joshua Rales, a philanthropist and owner of a real estate investment firm. Also a Montgomery resident, Rales was a Republican for a decade until last year, but said he became disillusioned with the party's social positions and lack of fiscal discipline.
Both have retained well-known political advisers. Van Susteren is being aided by Tad Devine, a strategist who has worked for Al Gore and Bob Kerrey; and she has received training from EMILY's List, the group that supports female candidates.
Rales has hired a campaign manager and a media firm, DCO of Washington, which has worked for Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski and Rep. Chris Van Hollen and recently helped elect the mayor of Los Angeles.
They will position themselves as nonpoliticians in the 2006 election - a contrast to the two main Democratic contenders, Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin and former congressman and NAACP head Kweisi Mfume. Socialist A. Robert Kaufman also is in the race. On the Republican side, Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele is considering a campaign, and state and national party leaders are urging him to get in.
Rales is prepared to spend $5 million of his own money to win the Democratic nomination, which he thinks could cost up to $7 million to secure. Aides to Van Susteren say she will have the money needed for a competitive race, but have not committed to a figure. Both say they will also try to raise donations.
Throughout the country, candidates for political office coming from the private sector frequently find success. Jon Corzine spent millions of his own to become a New Jersey senator, as did Mark Warner in the Virginia governor's race.
But such candidacies have not been successful in Maryland.
"It's really a long shot," said Matthew Crenson, head of the political science department at the Johns Hopkins University. "The Senate has been known as the millionaire's club, but these days it takes more than money."
