Senate hopefuls squabble, call each other ‘handpicked’

Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele and Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin yesterday wrangled over the origins of their U.S. Senate campaigns, with each accusing the other of being “handpicked” by their parties’ leaders.

“The lieutenant governor was recruited by George Bush,” said Mr. Cardin, a Democrat. “George Bush helped finance his campaign.”

Mr. Steele, 48, said that Mr. Cardin “has been running against George Bush for a year and a half. …”

“You talk about handpicked,” Mr. Steele, a Republican, told Mr. Cardin. “You were handpicked by [House Democratic Whip] Steny Hoyer to get in this race. …”

“If you weren’t [handpicked], Kweisi Mfume should’ve been sitting here,” he added, referring to the past president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, who lost the Democratic primary to Mr. Cardin last month.

A visibly flustered Mr. Cardin said, “I won a competitive primary. … Kweisi Mfume is supporting me.”

The debate at NewsChannel 8 studios in Rosslyn, which included Green Party nominee Kevin Zeese, was the first of three between Mr. Steele and Mr. Cardin that will culminate Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

The war in Iraq, embryonic stem-cell research and mass transit were other dominant issues in the debate.

When pressed, Mr. Steele said that U.S. forces should have invaded Iraq in 2003 “to deal with the terrorist threat.”

Mr. Cardin, 63, voted against sending troops to Iraq, but Mr. Zeese attacked Mr. Cardin for voting several times to finance the war.

“After your first vote, you have been wrong, wrong, wrong,” Mr. Zeese said.

Mr. Cardin also appeared unaware of exactly where Metro plans to begin and end the Purple Line, which Mr. Steele used to portray him as out of touch.

Mr. Steele reiterated his support for stem-cell research using adult stem cells and his opposition to embryonic research, which he considers abortion. Mr. Cardin said he supports embryonic research.

After the debate, Mr. Cardin complained that the open format allowed too many interruptions.

At one point, Mr. Steele, sitting next to Mr. Cardin, said the 10-term congressman had failed as a leader. “For 20 years, sir, you have sat in the [congressional] seat and wasted the opportunity to lead,” he said.

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