Baltimore Bridge puts Gov. Wes Moore in national attention: NPR
Maryland Governor Wes Moore speaks to reporters near the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 27, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland.
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Maryland Governor Wes Moore speaks to reporters near the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 27, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
A complex and dangerous cleanup effort has begun in Maryland after the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed on Tuesday. tragedy The state's young governor, Wes Moore, attracted international attention.
Moore, a Democrat, took office last year and made history. Maryland's first black governor.
“Baltimore is being tested right now, but Baltimore has been tested before. And every time we stand on two legs, we dust ourselves off and keep moving forward,” Moore said during a number of press conferences this week. He spoke at one of the press conferences. The bodies of two construction workers who were on the bridge were recovered. The other four people are missing and presumed dead.
Since the cargo ship crashed into the Key Bridge early Tuesday morning, Moore has been on the scene constantly, meeting with families and first responders and securing federal aid.
“We're tough in Maryland, but we're strong in Baltimore,” Moore said Tuesday morning at his first news conference after the bridge collapse. Since then, the phrase has spread, even President Joe Biden repeated it, and it was printed on his T-shirts for sale.
The moment that separates victory and defeat
“When you see a tragedy or a crisis, it can either uplift you or bring you down,” said Kay Wise Whitehead, professor of communication and African American studies at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore. ” he says. . “We tend to rank great presidents and governors based on what they did in moments of crisis.”
Moore, 45, is the third black person to be elected governor of a state in the United States. Moore had no prior political experience, but he took office and A long and impressive resume. He was a college football star, a Rhodes Scholar, a best-selling author, an Army captain who served in Afghanistan, an investment banker, and most recently the CEO of Robin Hood, a leading anti-poverty nonprofit.
When Moore ran for governor in 2022, his approval ratings were in the single digits. He went on to defeat several big names in Maryland politics, including two former Obama administration cabinet members, a former state attorney general and a former state comptroller. As a political newcomer, he had some star power on his side. He was friends with Oprah Winfrey and helped her campaign and raise money nationally.
Whitehead says this week's tragedy is an opportunity for Moore to take a stand.
“I believe we are watching the door open for him to take the next step into national politics. He intends to run for president. I would be surprised if he did not run. Let’s go.”
senior level issues
In fact, even before Moore took office, there was speculation about his eventual presidential bid. Many compare Moore to former President Barack Obama. The two share many similarities in their personal lives, including being the sons of immigrants, growing up as single mothers, and finding fame through their memoirs.
David Karol, a political science professor at the University of Maryland, said Moore seemed to be hitting his stride this week. “He seems empathetic and responsible, and I think that influences his oratorical strength and personality,” says Karol.
But Karol says the real challenges may come as the cleanup and construction drag on for months or years. The bridge will likely not be rebuilt before Moore is re-elected in 2026.
“The governor is trying to lower expectations a little bit. He said this is not going to go away in days or weeks. But it's going to be a very big challenge,” Karol said.
Matthew Crenson, a longtime observer of Maryland politics and a professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, says he was a faculty advisor to the younger Moore when the future governor was an undergraduate at Johns Hopkins. . Crenson recalls a special conversation he had with Moore at the time.
“We were talking about his political career, which didn't exist yet. I, like all the people in Maryland who have political ambitions, told him suggested that he should run for the House of Delegates, and he said, no, he would prefer an executive position.'' And of course, that's exactly what he got right out of the box. ”
But when it comes to comparing the future possibilities of President Obama and President Moore, Crenson is cautious.
“It's easy to overestimate such people, because they look perfect from the outside. Once they take office, they have to face a lot of messy problems that get in the way. “No,” Crenson said.
“So far, he hasn't faced any really devastating challenges until this point, but I think this will be a test. We'll see if there's really any steel behind that resume.”
At the same time that Governor Moore is dealing with the aftermath of the bridge collapse, he is also facing a multibillion-dollar budget deficit that could result in tax increases for the state. All of this could undermine Moore's campaign promises, which include fighting poverty and crime and building more affordable housing across the state.
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Maryland Governor Wes Moore speaks to reporters near the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 27, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
hide caption
toggle caption
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Maryland Governor Wes Moore speaks to reporters near the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 27, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
A complex and dangerous cleanup effort has begun in Maryland after the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed on Tuesday. tragedy The state's young governor, Wes Moore, attracted international attention. Moore, a Democrat, took office last year and made history. Maryland's first black governor. “Baltimore is being tested right now, but Baltimore has been tested before. And every time we stand on two legs, we dust ourselves off and keep moving forward,” Moore said during a number of press conferences this week. He spoke at one of the press conferences. The bodies of two construction workers who were on the bridge were recovered. The other four people are missing and presumed dead.
Since the cargo ship crashed into the Key Bridge early Tuesday morning, Moore has been on the scene constantly, meeting with families and first responders and securing federal aid. “We're tough in Maryland, but we're strong in Baltimore,” Moore said Tuesday morning at his first news conference after the bridge collapse. Since then, the phrase has spread, even President Joe Biden repeated it, and it was printed on his T-shirts for sale. The moment that separates victory and defeat “When you see a tragedy or a crisis, it can either uplift you or bring you down,” said Kay Wise Whitehead, professor of communication and African American studies at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore. ” he says. . “We tend to rank great presidents and governors based on what they did in moments of crisis.” Moore, 45, is the third black person to be elected governor of a state in the United States. Moore had no prior political experience, but he took office and A long and impressive resume. He was a college football star, a Rhodes Scholar, a best-selling author, an Army captain who served in Afghanistan, an investment banker, and most recently the CEO of Robin Hood, a leading anti-poverty nonprofit.
When Moore ran for governor in 2022, his approval ratings were in the single digits. He went on to defeat several big names in Maryland politics, including two former Obama administration cabinet members, a former state attorney general and a former state comptroller. As a political newcomer, he had some star power on his side. He was friends with Oprah Winfrey and helped her campaign and raise money nationally.
Whitehead says this week's tragedy is an opportunity for Moore to take a stand. “I believe we are watching the door open for him to take the next step into national politics. He intends to run for president. I would be surprised if he did not run. Let’s go.” senior level issues In fact, even before Moore took office, there was speculation about his eventual presidential bid. Many compare Moore to former President Barack Obama. The two share many similarities in their personal lives, including being the sons of immigrants, growing up as single mothers, and finding fame through their memoirs. David Karol, a political science professor at the University of Maryland, said Moore seemed to be hitting his stride this week. “He seems empathetic and responsible, and I think that influences his oratorical strength and personality,” says Karol. But Karol says the real challenges may come as the cleanup and construction drag on for months or years. The bridge will likely not be rebuilt before Moore is re-elected in 2026. “The governor is trying to lower expectations a little bit. He said this is not going to go away in days or weeks. But it's going to be a very big challenge,” Karol said. Matthew Crenson, a longtime observer of Maryland politics and a professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, says he was a faculty advisor to the younger Moore when the future governor was an undergraduate at Johns Hopkins. . Crenson recalls a special conversation he had with Moore at the time.
“We were talking about his political career, which didn't exist yet. I, like all the people in Maryland who have political ambitions, told him suggested that he should run for the House of Delegates, and he said, no, he would prefer an executive position.'' And of course, that's exactly what he got right out of the box. ” But when it comes to comparing the future possibilities of President Obama and President Moore, Crenson is cautious. “It's easy to overestimate such people, because they look perfect from the outside. Once they take office, they have to face a lot of messy problems that get in the way. “No,” Crenson said. “So far, he hasn't faced any really devastating challenges until this point, but I think this will be a test. We'll see if there's really any steel behind that resume.” At the same time that Governor Moore is dealing with the aftermath of the bridge collapse, he is also facing a multibillion-dollar budget deficit that could result in tax increases for the state. All of this could undermine Moore's campaign promises, which include fighting poverty and crime and building more affordable housing across the state.
More from WYPR in Baltimore: Click here for the latest information from member station WYPR in Baltimore. wypr.org
https://npr.org/2024/03/30/1241744895/wes-moore-baltimore-bridge-collapse Baltimore Bridge puts Gov. Wes Moore in national attention: NPR
