Talk about your cryptic Facebook update:
Although I enjoy seeing the signage around the State, it is time to "bring them in". We have them all down in Queen Anne's and Talbot but if you happen to be out and about and you see sign(s), please pull them up and keep them somewhere. We may need them sometime ;)
This was Eric Wargotz last night on Facebook. (By the way, any Wargotz signs at my polling place were left in the possession of Mark McIver, I took them over to his warehouse the day after the election.)
Since his signs clearly state "U.S. Senate" one has to deduce he's weighing his chances for 2012 against Ben Cardin.
So does he have an opportunity? Well, given the fact he has some familiarity with voters and the rudiments of a campaign team in place, I would say yes. Another advantage in his favor is that the 2012 primary will likely be in March or April, which may preclude a member of the General Assembly from running since they'd be waging a primary campaign in the midst of the session. Nor do I think Eric will have the competition from Jim Rutledge, as the indications I've heard point to a run for a state office rather than a federal one.
Then again, putting his family and his pocketbook through another campaign on the heels of the last one could prove detrimental in that important aspect.
Obviously this could also be a remark made in jest, or Eric may see himself as a candidate for what most likely will be an open seat in 2016. (Of course a barely incumbent Martin O'Malley could be there, too - some have whispered that Barb Mikulski will decide to retire early, just in time for the lame duck to find a new home after he's through as governor.) However, a 2016 move would likely guarantee a stronger field against him assuming the seat opens up.
We don't know just what the future will hold. But his was a cryptic remark worth picking up on, so I did.
And to all my veteran friends out there (a group which would include my dad), happy Veteran's Day!