20020718 Annual Tawes crab feast means politics, as usual

http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-md.tawes18jul18.story?coll=bal%2Dlocal%2Dheadlines

Annual Tawes crab feast means politics, as usual
Tradition: The campaign trail led the prospective gubernatorial candidates and many others to Crisfield to eat and greet.
By Howard Libit and Tim Craig, Sun Staff

July 18, 2002

CRISFIELD - Three out of every four years, the annual J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake is an equal mix of crabs and politics. And then there are statewide election years, when almost everything involves politics.

If you're a politician, this is where you should be every year," Comptroller William Donald Schaefer said yesterday as he worked on a fried fish sandwich. "But if it's an election year, this is the place where you have to be. Because if you're not here, people won't know that you're running."

Of course, the 26th annual event at Somers Cove Marina attracted plenty who came for the crabs, corn and fried clam strips. But there was no escaping the politics in the 95-degree heat, whether it was in the form of stickers, fliers, banners or signs.

[…]

And for the 5,000 or so people who packed picnic tables and tents…

[…]

Named for former Maryland Gov. J. Millard Tawes, the crab feast has become one of the biggest events sponsored by the Crisfield Chamber of Commerce, with many Eastern Shore and statewide politicians making it a habit to attend…

[…]

"This is a very good-natured political gathering, very polite," said McDaniel College professor Herbert C. Smith, a close observer of Maryland politics. "At this event, Republicans and Democrats show they can get along. I don't know if it will be this polite in October."

[…]

####