Washington Post, November 6, 1988
MARYLAND has been blessed with an unusually strong and representative congressional delegation — senators and members of the House who by and large are respected and given important assignments. Leading the list for reelection this year is Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes, who clearly has earned reelection. His hard work and off-stage contributions as a member of key committees continue to outweigh criticisms that he has to yet exercise his talents to the fullest or move out into a vocal leadership role on behalf of his constituents. Republican challenger Alan Keyes is an aggressive conservative intellectual. Energetically, Mr. Keyes has been pronouncing doctrine that surely has put more philosophical distance between these two candidates than any others paired for the Senate this year. Absent from his theories, however, has often been much evidence of a knowledge of Maryland or of familiarity with the concerns of its many constituencies.
Well, at least he’s had some practice at not knowing much about the state he is running to represent.