By Philip Rucker - Washington Post Staff Writer - Wednesday, February 6, 2008; 3:40 PMThe Howard County executive and an influential state senator from Southern Maryland today endorsed Sen. Barack Obama as the Illinois senator's presidential campaign sought to broaden its appeal beyond Maryland's Democratic strongholds of Baltimore and Montgomery and Prince George's counties.
County Executive Ken Ulman (D) and Sen. Thomas M. Middleton (D-Charles) said at a rally in Annapolis that they joined Obama's campaign because they were inspired by the political movement he has created.
"In my 62 years, I can't remember a time when Maryland or the United States was holding out hope like they are in this election," said Middleton, a farmer and popular figure in Southern Maryland.
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), co-chairman of Obama's Maryland campaign, motivated Obama's supporters with a stirring speech, saying that Obama "was told so many times, 'How dare you hope,' but he hoped anyway."
"Now Barack Obama will become the next president of the United States," said Cummings, a powerful member of the Congressional Black Caucus who represents the Baltimore area. "Never did I dream in my lifetime that I would see a Barack Obama emerge to tell us what we could be as opposed to telling us what we can't be."
The campaign's other Maryland co-chairman, Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler (D), said Obama will do well in Baltimore and the densely-populated Washington suburbs. Gansler highlighted key constituencies, including Jewish voters, women and Latinos.
Speaking in Spanish, Gansler introduced Del. Joseline A. Pena-Melnyk (D-Prince George's). She led cheers of "Si se puede!" which is a rallying cry for laborers.
"This is really a Kennedy-esque moment," Gansler said. "It's a moment in time."
Gansler said Obama volunteers plan to knock on hundreds of doors Saturday in Montgomery County.
Comptroller Peter Franchot (D), who joined several Maryland elected officials in campaigning for Obama in South Carolina last month, said he will be working hard for Obama over the next week.
"This is a different kind of leader that we have," Franchot said. "He makes us feel good about America again. I think you're going to see the impact of that in Maryland."
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