Michael Cryor

State Comptroller Peter Franchot (D-Takoma Park) says he's concerned about the national gambling industry's sponsorship of the state Democratic Party's One Week to Victory 2008 Gala fundraiser held Monday at the Baltimore Hilton Hotel.
 
In a letter to Party Chair Michael Cryor, Franchot said he was pleased to attend the event, but was concerned about how indebted the Party leadership was to the national gambling industry.
 
"Not only were gambling interests major sponsors of this event, but the leadership of our state party made a conscious decision to silence those who are not beholden to these special interests," Franchot, a staunch opponent of November's slots referendum, wrote to Cryor.

The Maryland Democratic Party is pointing to a new poll as proof that Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-Baltimore) is taking Maryland in the right direction.

A survey paid for and conducted by Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies shows 45 percent of those polled statewide approved of O'Malley's performance as the state's chief executive: an 8 point increase since March.

"Marylanders get it," said party chair Michael Cryor in a statement. "Marylanders understand we have more challenges before us and we expect smart, long term solutions that work."

It's Maryland's Winners and Losers for August 22, 2008. CLICK HERE.

Michael CryorDENVER – Maryland Democratic Party chair Mike Cryor says the goal of this week’s Democratic National Convention was to unite the party - not to target Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

“Our business frankly was to demonstrate that we could work together. We have some healing to do,” Cryor told PolitickerMD.com at the Renaissance Denver Hotel. He says there’s still plenty of time to “go after Senator McCain in a very aggressive way.”

“We are indeed a unified party,” he added. “We’re not always going to agree on everything. We may not always agree to the point that we may want.”

If presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama would like a few tips about campaigning with Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), he doesn't have to look any further than Maryland.

Michael Cryor, the chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, said he “really liked him early on.”

How early on?

Cryor was a staffer in Biden’s senate office in the late 1980’s. When Biden made his run for president in 1988, Cryor “migrated to the campaign.” Cryor helped plan the announcement tour, which traveled as far as Iowa and New Hampshire and down to Washinton, D.C. and Georgia.

Michael Cryor, chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, praised presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s choice of Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) as a running mate.

Cryor, who worked on Biden’s first presidential campaign in 1988, called the selection “smart and strategic.”

“He is extremely capable on matters of foreign policy and international affairs, and his ability to frame the complex issues facing America in simple terms is a gift,” said Cryor in a statement. “As importantly, he will be helpful to the campaign's effort to win the adjacent states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.”

Maryland State Democratic Party Chairman Michael Cryor left from BWI Airport this morning to make his way to Denver for the 2008 Democratic National Committee Convention.

In this brief video, shot by state Democrats, he talks in front of the United Airlines ticket counter about what this convention means to him.

The John Sarbanes for Congress campaign released a video from one of the Maryland Democratic Party's 'Unity Picnics' -- this one at Banneker Historical Park in Baltimore County on July 13.

Attendees included Senator Ben Cardin, Represenatives Sarbanes and Elijah Cummings, congressional challengers Frank Kratovil and Jennifer Dougherty, and state Chair Michael Cryor.

The Democratic State Party has organized free picnics around the state to celebrate party unity after a long and divisive primary season.

State Democratic Party leaders will be in Denver on Friday for a day-long Democratic National Convention walkthrough. Party Chair Michael Cryor, Executive Director Quincey Gamble and Finance Director Sue Levitan will tour the Pepsi Center from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. with their respective counterparts from all 50 states.

“We're fine tuning convention planning and more importantly working on the integration of the Obama campaign and the state party efforts,” said Gamble, in an email to PolitickerMD.com.

U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Kensington) the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) issued a congratulatory statement today in honor of U.S. Rep.-elect Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington), who was elected to represent the people of Maryland's 4th Congressional District, yesterday.

"On behalf of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, I congratulate Congresswoman-elect Donna Edwards on her victory and look forward to welcoming her to the House," Van Hollen said.