From the College of Journalism, Capital News Service on, Thursday, August
03, 2000.

^CNS-Maryland Notebook,760<
   ^Handled with Kid Gloves, Walking on Eggshells and Rocking with Rock<
   ^By CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE=
  
    PHILADELPHIA - Maryland Republicans insisted there were no hard
feelings  about the fact that a bus carrying GOP presidential nominee
George W. Bush  roared through the state Tuesday on its way to the
Republican National  Convention.
    Several Maryland delegates even took a charter bus to Harrisburg, Pa.,
 where the campaign bus stopped, just to show their support.
    But Bush campaign officials apparently wanted to make doubly sure
there  were no hard feelings about the apparent snub. Upon its arrival,
the group from  Maryland got V.V.I.P. (very, very important person)
passes, said Dick Sossi, an  alternate convention delegate from
Stevensville.
    "They sat up close and were able to shake hands and get autographs
from  the governor," Sossi said.
CLUTCH OF EGG
    The next time Maryland Republican Ellen Sauerbrey dons the state
colors  for a political function, she won't have to worry about finding a
purse to match  her outfit.
    Delegates this week presented Sauerbrey - the chairman of the state 
Republican delegation to the convention - with a handbag fashioned from an
 ostrich egg. It is painted, Faberge style, with patterns borrowed from
the  yellow, white, red and black Maryland state flag.
    Sauerbrey's gift was crafted by Mitzi Perdue, wife of chicken magnate 
Frank Perdue, and the Lower Shore finance chairwoman for the campaign of 
Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush.
    Sauerbrey has been wearing her Maryland pride all week at the
convention:  She had on a bright red suit when she accepted the purse and
sported a yellow  blazer earlier this week. 
BANKERS AND COWBOYS
    The Republican Party, working to shake off the stereotype that it is
the  party of Wall Street, didn't do itself any favors with a slip of the
tongue this  week by a member of the Maryland delegation.
    Delegate A. Wade Kach, R-Baltimore, was discussing Thursday night's
after- session salute to Texas Gov. George W. Bush at the First Union
Spectrum and made  reference to a concert by country music superstars Dun
& Bradstreet.
    State Sen. Patrick "P.J." Hogan, R-Montgomery, was on the scene and
was  able to confirm that the entertainment would actually be provided by
the duo of  Brooks and Dunn - not the Wall Street credit rating service of
Dun & Bradstreet
`ROCK' RAVES
    In a convention designed to transcend demographics, the Republican
Party  began Wednesday night's session with an appeal to a neglected
minority:  professional wrestling fans.
    "People's Champion," the Rock, introduced former high school wrestling
 coach and House Speaker Dennis Hastert, despite the protests of the
conservative  Parents Television Council, which disagrees with wrestling's
exploitative  nature.
    Most of Maryland's delegates said they were not even aware there was a
 controversy, and seemed charmed by the Rock's appearance. Robert
Duckworth, 5th  District delegate, described the Rock as "subdued" and
"respectful," adding  that, "We can't take ourselves too seriously."
    "`The Duck' likes the Rock," said Robert "The Duck" Duckworth.
    Joseph Brown Jr., 3rd District delegate, furtively snapped photos,
which  he claimed were for his children, and said that most of the
delegates know the  Rock through their kids. The Rock's appearance was
billed as part of a drive to  register young voters, and many of the
delegates echoed that goal in their  comments.
    Audrey Scott, 5th District delegate, stressed the importance of voter 
registration, and pointed out another aspect of the Rock's popularity. 
"He's so  good looking," she said.
    Delegate A. Wade Kach, R-Baltimore, added that the Rock's fan base of
18-  to 30-year-olds is exactly what the party is trying to attract.
PHOTO FINISH
    One the last activities for the Maryland delegation to the Republican 
National Convention this week was to have a group picture taken. Someday,
it  will be a nice reminder of the convention for delegates, but Thursday
it was a  pointed reminder of the relatively small size of the delegation
from the mostly  Democratic state.
    The Marylanders arrived for their photo just after the 124-person
Texas  delegation had its turn. After the Texans had filed out of the room
wearing  shirts bearing the Lone Star state's flag, some hasty chair
removing was needed  to keep Maryland's small contingent of 31 delegates
from being overwhelmed.
    "There's just no comparing Maryland to Texas," sighed Howard County 
delegate Boyd K. Rutherford. "They just dwarf us."
    To add some color, Delegation Chairman Ellen Sauerbrey suggested the 
delegates hold Maryland's state flower, the black-eyed Susan. Then, as the
 photographer struggled to arrange the delegates into rows, she asked them
to  slide over even though, "I know it's hard to move to the left in
Maryland."
                        -30- CNS 08-03-00