By Mike McCombs
The Island News
Mac Deford, a Democratic candidate for the 1st Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. Nancy Mace, held a meet and greet with former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley on a chilly Wednesday night, Oct. 29 at Shellring Ale House in Port Royal.
O’Malley, the Social Security Administrator under President Joe Biden, came to hold a primer on the state of Social Security and support Deford’s second run for this seat – he lost in the Democratic primary two years ago to Michael Moore, a descendent of Beaufort’s Robert Smalls.
Deford says this run is “a lot” different than the last time.
“Last time was my first go at it. I know a lot of what I didn’t know. I know more now that I didn’t know then. I’m much more focused and I know what needs to be done to flip this seat,” Deford said. “I feel very good about the primary. Last time I had an opponent that was outraising me, kicking my … in fundraising and whatnot, and now, we’re doing well. I feel good good about [where], staffing and structurally, this campaign is.”
Deford also said that there is more reason for hope for Democrats this time that the seat may flip again like it did to Joe Cunningham in 2018.
“… I also feel good when I talk to constituents throughout the District, that they are, across the political divide, that they’re not on board with the direction in which our country is moving. And I do think that is what is going to cause this seat to flip.” he said. “In 2018 it was offshore drilling. We’ve got a whole lot more besides offshore drilling to choose from when it comes to picking what you’re not on board with, even if you’re not a Democrat. And I think the people of this District will do the right thing.”
Deford addressed shutdown of the Federal government and the talking point Mace and other Republicans have repeatedly used – that Democrats caused the shutdown because they want undocumented immigrants to have free health care.
“It’s complete asinine rhetoric,” Deford said. “As Gov. O’Malley mentioned tonight, undocumented workers, they don’t draw from Social Security. They may pay into it. But they are prohibited by law from drawing from it. The same thing with Obamacare [the Affordable Care Act] … they’re not getting that.”
Deford said Mace simply wants to be divisive.
“Her rhetoric, even the way she has flip flopped on issues, … you didn’t ask about it, but gay marriage. She tweeted something the other day, ‘It’s not Adam and Steve, it’s Adam and Eve.’ She was on the record for supporting gay marriage, and now she’s not,” Deford said. “She’s doing this to appeal to her base and continue to sow division in our country and among those in our state, really. It is just false that undocumented immigrants are … they don’t collect anything.”
Mike McCombs is the editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
