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After spending his morning debating Maryland's Lt. Gov. Michael Steele on NBC's "Meet the Press" (both are campaigning for Maryland's open Senate seat), Cardin spent his evening at Baltimore's Southern Baptist Church for a "Get Out The Vote Gospel Concert" for all of Maryland's statewide Democratic candidates.
It makes sense: After all, the best way to win in November is to have God on your side, right? And a little "Praying for Political Power" never hurt anybody. But before Democrats start asking voters to leave the pupils for the polls, they might want to learn Religious Rule No. 1: Get to the church on time. (The event started a half-hour late).
With the gospel choir, organ and full band setting the spiritual mood, the pulpit was fierce with political prayer. "Thank the Lord for our political officials!" screamed the gospel's choir director. "Thank the Lord for the Congressional Black Caucus!"
"Bless every candidate tonight!" preached the Rev. Donte Hickman.
"The day of reckoning is near at hand!" congressional candidate John Sarbanes said.
Maryland State Sen. Nathaniel McFadden told the crowd, "Republicans -- God Bless You -- but on November 7, we're voting 'D' all the way down the ballot!"
Since the preaching skills of such political notables as Cardin, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley and Rep. Elijah Cummings couldn't hold a candle to Southern Baptist's regulars, it wasn't hard for Star Jones Reynolds, the former co-host of "The View," to seize the prize for best sermonizing.
The self-dubbed "Mistress of Ceremonies" said, "We've been tricked. ... We've been bamboozled."
"Christians need to begin to influence culture rather than letting culture influence Christians," Jones said.
She also admitted to being bitter over the 2000 election and said that Nov. 7 provided voters with an opportunity to "reap the harvest of prophecy" and "take back what the devil stole from us."
Jones did not elaborate on wh ether she was referring to Beelzebub himself or political brainiac Karl Rove.