Raskin Reels in Big Names

By Tim Craig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 18, 2006

U.S. Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) is scheduled to join Raskin on Saturday for a town-hall-style meeting in Silver Spring.

Raskin is hoping to unseat state Sen. Ida G. Ruben (D), who faces her most serious challenger in years, in the district that includes Silver Spring and Takoma Park.

Raskin is a law professor at American University and has long been active in national Democratic politics.

Last week, another congressman -- Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) -- headlined an event for Raskin. Last month, several hundred people showed up at a Raskin rally that featured Jim Hightower , a well-known populist author and radio commentator.

John Sarbanes, son of U.S. Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes (D-Md.) and Democratic candidate for Maryland's third congressional district, has also campaigned with Raskin.

Meanwhile, Ruben appears to be struggling to gin up similar big-name support.

Listed by Washingtonian magazine this year as one of the city's 100 most powerful women, Ruben is hosting a fundraising brunch Sunday.

Initially, Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-Md.) was the featured guest, but he canceled because of a scheduling conflict.

Last week, Ruben's Web site advertised that former County Council member Isiah Leggett , past chairman of the Maryland Democratic Party and a candidate for county executive, would headline the event.

But Leggett, who is neutral in the District 20 state Senate race, said he never agreed to be the featured guest at the fundraiser.

"I am not even sure how that popped up [on the Web site]," Leggett said. "We were not aware of that. We certainly were not cleared on it."

Leggett asked Ruben to stop using his name to sell tickets to her event. Council President George L. Leventhal (D-At Large) is now listed on the Web site as the featured guest.

Leventhal said he's honored to lend his support.