In the past few weeks, Baltimore residents have been polled by telephone to get their opinions on local politicians likely to run for mayor in 2016 — Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, former Mayor Sheila Dixon, City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young, and others. But strangely, author Wes Moore — who is not a politician and has stated he has no intention of becoming one — has been included in the questioning.
When the Baltimore Sun inquired about the source of the poll, Dixon, Moore, and Young have straight-up denied any involvement. The closest they got to a response from Rawlings-Blake is her campaign treasurer’s claim of ignorance.
So, what’s the deal? Is it a way for Moore to test his relative popularity should he decide to run? Or is he being included as a “control” element, the way Public Policy Polling included Stephen Colbert in many of their 2012 presidential election surveys? And what do you say, folks: would you want Moore as an option in 2016?
I have read Wes’ book, The Other Wes Moore, and had the pleasure and honor of meeting him. I worry he’s too nice to succeed in Baltimore politics, but I would be more than willing to give him the chance!