McCann to captain ship, but few changes aboard

Tim McCann, state's Attorney Frank Kratovil’s (D-Stevensville) new campaign manager, told PolitickerMD.com that his addition to the campaign is not part of a big change or a drastic shift in direction.

McCann, who was brought on board to the Kratovil campaign last week, will take over on Tuesday. Kratovil’s former campaign manager, volunteer Marie Duffield, will begin focusing on field operations according to Erik Gulbrandsen, the campaign’s spokesperson.

“All campaign staffs grow as you approach election day,” McCann said in an interview with PolitickerMD.com. “My role is to come in and focus the operation.”

Although McCann has an extensive background in new media, he explained it wouldn’t become his central focus. He said “highlighting Frank’s strengths,” and fundraising would become a significant part of his job. It's “clear that there’s a ton of energy,” he said.

McCann expressed confidence in Kratovil’s finances, but admitted there is a “realization that they [the campaign] need to pick up even more.”

According to McCann, his addition to the campaign, which came just a week after Kratovil’s addition to the DCCC's Red-to-Blue program were “both symptoms of the same trend,” which was the campaign’s momentum.

Kratovil is facing state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) in his MD-1 congressional bid. The race is one of the most heated contests in the country, according to some political observers. Although Maryland’s 1st district trends Republican, the DCCC has seen an opportunity to pick up the seat, which takes in all of the Eastern Shore and portions of Harford and Baltimore counties.

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