Andy Harris

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Republican U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest wasn't crossing party lines when he endorsed state's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) because he's never been a Republican, according to Andrew Langer - Maryland for McCain's Eastern Shore coordinator.

Gilchrest currently represents Maryland's 1st Congressional District, but was defeated by state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) in the February primary. Gilchrest endorsed Harris' Democratic opponent -- state's Attorney Frank Kratovil -- early Tuesday morning.   

Langer says that Gilchrist's claims that he is reaching across party lines to support Kratovil are nonsense.

"I don't see this as crossing party lines," said Langer, who also serves as president of the Institute for Liberty. "It makes it very clear to any moderate Republican who's thinking about voting for Frank Kratovil that Wayne Gilchrest was never a maverick. He was always a Democrat in Republican clothing."

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Republican U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest wasn't crossing party lines when he endorsed state's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) because he's never been a Republican, according to Andrew Langer - Maryland for McCain's Eastern Shore coordinator.

Gilchrest currently represents Maryland's 1st Congressional District, but was defeated by state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) in the February primary. Gilchrest endorsed Harris' Democratic opponent -- state's Attorney Frank Kratovil -- early Tuesday morning.   

Langer says that Gilchrist's claims that he is reaching across party lines to support Kratovil are nonsense.

"I don't see this as crossing party lines," said Langer, who also serves as president of the Institute for Liberty. "It makes it very clear to any moderate Republican who's thinking about voting for Frank Kratovil that Wayne Gilchrest was never a maverick. He was always a Democrat in Republican clothing."

U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Kennedyville) is featured in the third and latest ad from the campaign of 1st District Democrat Frank Kratovil.

"I'm Wayne Gilchrest," the outdoors advocate says while standing by the waterfront. "I'm a Republican, but I'm reaching across party lines to support Frank Kratovil for Congress."

Gilchrest was defeated by state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville), a more conservative Republican, in the Feb. 12 primary. The bitter battle and Gilchrest's refusal to concede the race to Harris left many under the impression that he would buck party label and endorse the man he would have faced off against had he won.

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- There is a handful of Republicans already eyeing the governor's seat in 2010 according to state House Minority Leader Tony O'Donnell.

"I know a few people who could do it and do it very well," O'Donnel told PolitickerMD.com at the Embassy Suites hotel in Minnesota's state capital.

O'Donnell wouldn't mention any names, but did say there were "a lot of good candidates who are looking at the race right now."

O'Donnell predicted a victory for state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) in Maryland's 1st Congressional District race.

"I was pleased that I endorsed him a long time ago," he said before taking a shot at state's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville).

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Maryland Republicans agree that Republican Congressman Wayne Gilchrest's endorsement of Democrat Frank Kratovil is disappointing but not unexpected.

"I think a lot of Republicans are gonna view this as a little bit of a betrayal of that support that he's had for years," said Justin Ready, who serves as executive director of the Maryland Republican Party.

Gilchrest currently represents Maryland's 1st Congressional District, but was defeated by state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) in the February primary. Gilchrest endorsed state's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) early Tuesday morning. The two are scheduled to appear together in Annapolis and Easton the same day.

"As a long time fan of Wayne Gilchrest I'm disappointed," said Don Murphy, chair of the Maryland delegation to the Republican National Convention. "I can't even say I'm disappointed in him. I'm just disappointed...period."

Mike Pappas called the endorsement a "non-issue." Pappas serves as second vice-chair of the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee and is the MDGOP parliamentarian.

The Baltimore Sun reports that U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Kennedyville), who was defeated for re-election in February's GOP primary by state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville), will break from his party and support the Democratic candidate, Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville).

The two will stump in Annapolis and Easton today.

The Sun learned of the impending endorsement from a "senior member of Gilchrest's staff." Several of his staff members are now with Kratovil, including his chief of staff Tony Caligiuri, campaign aide Lynn Caligiuri, and longtime district director Karen Willis.

The congressional campaign of Republican state Sen. Andy Harris wasn't fazed by an announcement Thursday from opponent Frank Kratovil that a pair of Republican county commission presidents had endorsed the Democrat.

One of those endorsers -- Kent County Board of Commissioners President Roy Crow -- is, in the words of Harris spokesman Chris Meekins, a "disgruntled Wayne Gilchrist supporter."

Meekins said Crow has been behind Kratovil since the end of the primary, so his endorsement is not news.

In time, Meekins said, the similarities between Kratovil and Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley would be enough to cement a victory for Harris.

"The most important endorsement in this race has been Martin O’Malley has endorsed our opponent," Meekins said. "When voters find out that he agrees with O’Malley’s policies of raising taxes and increasing wasteful government spending, they will come running with open arms to support Andy Harris."

Harris and Kratovil are battling for the 1st Congressional District seat currently held by Gilchrist.

The campaign of Democratic congressional candidate Frank Kratovil has added a pair of Republican officials to its list of supporters.

In a statement issued Thursday, the Kratovil campaign said Kent County Board of Commissioners President Roy Crow and Caroline County Board of Commissioners President Jack Cole -- both Republicans -- are endorsing Kratovil over his GOP opponent, state Sen. Andy Harris.

Kratovil, a Queen Anne's County State's Attorney, has sought to portray himself as a fiscally-conservative moderate over the course of his campaign. On Thursday, his campaign said the two endorsements added credibility to his claim that he represents "Eastern Shore values."

"Jack and Roy are both respected public servants and Eastern Shore leaders, and I'm honored to have their support in this race," Kratovil said in a statement. 

"This race isn't about party labels.  It is about bringing change to Washington so we can finally start addressing the challenges we face.  Fixing our energy policy, cutting wasteful spending, cracking down on illegal immigration, and protecting the Bay will require leaders who can work across party lines to get real results."

Crow said he was throwing his support behind Kratovil because of his track record of public service in the area, while Cole said he supported Kratovil's position on environmental conservation.

A phone call seeking comment was not immediately returned by the Harris campaign. 

Harris and Kratovil: In their new adsThe ads may be positive, but the barbs are still being traded between the campaigns of Maryland's open 1st District U.S. House seat.

Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) and Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) each released a new campaign spot this week, with both focusing on positive biographical aspects of their respective candidates. And as the ads airwaves, both campaigns responded to the perceived inaccuracies of each other's commercials.

"Frank Kratovil will need a magician better than Harry Houdini if he thinks he can trick voters into believing that he is no longer the O'Malley loving, anti-energy exploring, high taxing, big spending liberal he called himself before the primary." said Harris' campaign manager, Chris Meekins.

DENVER - U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Kensington) says Queen Anne County State's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) would represent the values of Maryland’s 1st Congressional District far better than his opponent.

“This is a tough district for Democrats but Frank Kratovil is a very independent minded pragmatic centrist moderate candidate. Very much a mold of Wayne Gilchrest,” Van Hollen told PolitickerMD.com during a reception hosted by Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon at the Renaissance Denver Hotel.

“I think that Frank Kratovil represents Gilchrest tradition of moderation. And I think his political temperament: it’s much better with that district than does the person who he’s running against,” said Van Hollen. “And his opponent, Andy Harris, is very much on the right fringe.”

U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R) was first elected to Congress in 1990. He was defeated by state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) during the February primaries.

Van Hollen -- chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee -- declined to say specifically if the DCCC would be sending any money Kratovil’s way, but did say the organization “will be involved in every way.”

Van Hollen said focusing on Harris’ ideologies should be a key part of Kratovil’s campaign strategy.

“His strategy needs to focus on the fact that the positions Andy Harris has taken is like Bush on steroids,” he said.