David Paulson

After former Gov. Bob Ehrlich (R-Baltimore) suggested his polling showed Republican Andy Harris ahead in the 1st Congressional District race, David Paulson, the state Democratic Party's communications director, said Ehrlich is fibbing.

"I have private polling and I have Harris campaign polling ... obviously we're ahead," Ehrlich told PolitickerMD.com while campaigning with Harris on Sunday.

Maryland Republican Party executive director Justin Ready had only one thing to say on the eve of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's speech at the Republican National Convetion:

"You've got your hands full now boys."

But David Paulson, the Maryland Democratic Party's communications director, said the comment "tells you something about where their heads are at."

U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Baltimore) has been added to the list of Maryland delegates to speak at the Democratic National Convention next week.

Cumming’s is a co-chair of the Maryland for Obama campaign.

“Congressman Cummings will lay the irrefutable truth on the table for an entire nation. He is joining a host of Maryland Democrats who are leading our party as Senator Barack Obama makes history in Denver and more importantly, as we put America on the right path again,” wrote Maryland Democratic Party communications director David Paulson in a statement.

“We are very proud and excited so many Maryland Democrats will address the convention and the nation at this critical time in our nation’s history,” he added

Cummings will speak Tuesday along with U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville), U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Kensington) and U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Baltimore). He is scheduled to speak from 8-8:30pm EST.

In an effort to begin recruiting young supporters and energize the base, the Maryland Democratic Party is attempting to make its post convention celebration look rather "unconventional."

Maryland Democrats plan to host "Unconventional Rallies for change" back at home during the week of the Republican National Convention. The rallies will be held at five universities throughout the state on three consecutive days. Gov. Martin O'Malley and U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings will speak.

According to the state party's communications director, David Paulson, the timing of the event is no coincidence.

"The Unconventional Rallies will reinforce our candidates' and our party's tremendous growth among Maryland's young people who are registering Democratic at record numbers, said Democratic party spokesman David Paulson.

Last week The Gazette reported Democrats outnumbered Republicans in Maryland 2 to 1.

The Maryland Republican Party shot back and pointed to John McCain's numerous young supporters.

The Maryland Republican Party says that Gov. Martin O'Malley's (D-Baltimore) 2006 campaign platform on mass transit is "just another O'Malley broken promise."

The call came just a day after The Sun reported the Maryland Transit Administration dropped plans to add weekend service to two of it's train lines.

"Since he took office, Martin O'Malley has used the Maryland Department of Transportation for flashy environmental promises instead of providing core service to Maryland travelers," said MDGOP Chair James Pelura in a statement. "The state's MARC train service is breaking down, buses are being recalled, and Maryland drivers are still mired in horrific traffic jams on the state's highways."

Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty (D) has been added to the Maryland Democratic Party’s Victory ’08 Unity Fundraiser guest list.

Fenty is the second Democrat from outside of the state to be officially announced as an attendee. In early July, PolitickerMD.com reported that Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) would also be joining the state party for the July 30 event.

State GOP Executive Director Justin Ready is taking state's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) to task for what Ready believes is the Democratic congressional candidate’s hypocrisy.

In an interview with PolitickerMD.com last week , the 1st district Democratic nominee said that his opponent, state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville), would “arguably raise more money than me.”

“It is amazing, in my view, that Kratovil didn’t outraised (sic) Harris big-time considering the huge fundraisers he had in D.C. and Prince George’s County, as well as with anti-gun activists on the Eastern Shore,” wrote Ready in an email to PolitickerMD.com. “He is not even attempting to hide his desire to be a lap dog for the left-wing leadership in Maryland.”

While pushing the congressional candidacy of Andy Harris, the state GOP criticized the Democratic controlled congress today, pointing to a Rasmussen poll that shows congressional approval ratings at a 9 percent all time low.

“Voters clearly are not happy with the liberal Democrats who control Congress,” said state GOP Chairman James Pelura in a statement. “A vote for Kratovil is a vote to send yet another liberal Democrat to Washington.”

It's not every day that the state Democratic Party's communication director and one of Maryland's most prominent Republicans agree on a party's political fortunes. But after former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele told a crowd of Republicans that "the Republican brand quite frankly sucks," David Paulson emailed PolitickerMD.com to express his empathy for Steele's idea."I don't disagree with Michael Steele on his low opinion of the Republican brand - it's in the toilet for a lot of reasons," Paulson wrote in an email to PolitickerMD.com. "But Republicans who think they only have a branding problem are fooling themselves. This isn't a public relations problem. This is a public trust problem."

Gov. Ed Rendell (D-Pennsylvania) will be attending the Maryland Democratic Party’s Victory ’08 Unity Fundraiser, PolitickerMD.com has confirmed.

According to David Paulson, the state Democratic Party’s communication director, Rendell will “not be the only big name from out of state.” However, Paulson was not prepared to confirm who else this would include. Those “eggs haven’t hatched yet,” he told PolitickerMD.com.