Fmr. Sen. Breaux: Kratovil needs to ‘get out, get going'

By Danny Reiter, PolitickerMD.com Reporter

EASTON -- If Congressional candidate Frank Kratovil is to win in November, he'll have to "get out, get going" and get on television, according to former U.S. Sen. John Breaux (D-La.).

Breaux said there were a lot of undecided voters at the beginning of the 2008 Congressional election cycle - especially for open seats.

"People now are starting to make decisions," Breaux told PolitickerMD.com at a Friday fundraiser for Kratovil. "And the fortunate thing for Frank is the trend line is very much towards the Democrats and I think he's part of this trend."

Breaux says the Queen Anne's County state's attorney fits the "mold" of a centrist and represents change. "Which is what I think people want," he said. "I don't think people want an extremist in either party."

Breaux thinks U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest's (R-Stevensville) endorsement will help Kratovil in his bid for the 1st Congressional District seat.

Gilchrest, who currently holds the seat, was defeated in the February primary by state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville). Gilchrest endorsed Kratovil over the summer.

Breaux thinks Gilchrest's environmental credentials will help Kratovil win over the district's environmentally active Republican base.

"I think that these people are economically conservative but when it comes to quality of life that's why they're here," Breaux told PolitickerMD.com. "They're very concerned about the bay and they're very concerned about the quality of air and the environment."

Breaux said Harris's attempt to paint Kratovil as a liberal has become "more or less" effective.

"Those arguments aren't working anymore," he said, after listing a handful of races where the strategy didn't work. He says people are concerned about other things, such as the economy.

DANNY REITER is a PolitickerMD.com Reporter and can be reached via email at Daniel.reiter@politicker.com.

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Comments

Extremists NOT Needed

posted by InspectorT

The last thing that Maryland in general and the Eastern Shore in particular needs at this time of deepening economic crisis is an extremist of any stripe. Harris has shown himself to be such an ideological extremist. We need someone to fight for the voters, not fight other politicians, and, especially, NOT someone who will fight in support of the special interests that Harris represents.

Frank Kratovil is the person needed to responsibly represent the Eastern Shore.

10/06/08 5:01 pm

I agree, Balance is Key

posted by Austin

Jim,
I agree we need balance, and that is exactly why you should vote for Kratovil. Mr. Kratovil understands something that Andy just doesnot get. You cant be so obstinante in your beliefs at the cost of all else. Andy has not shown leadership skills in his 10 years of the Senate. He never Leads the Charge, he just votes NO. We need someone who will think, sensibly, about the people, not only about de-regulating Wall St. The greedy CEO's didnt do this until regulations went out the window - Andy style. We need sensible balance and compromised policies that suit all americans not the priviledged few. We need Mr. Kratovil, a man of integrity, of traditional family values, a man with a civil service attitude who is willing to fight for everyday people.

10/06/08 12:29 pm

What does the next

posted by JimMartin

What does the next Congressman need to work with Martin O'Malley on? Raising my taxes by another $1 billion? I was undecided until a couple of weeks ago. You guys use that "progressive" term way too often for my liking to describe Mr. Kratovil. We need a balance in Maryland, not more of the same.

10/06/08 6:09 am

This is our chance to seize

posted by Progessive Papa

This is our chance to seize the iniative. Vote Barack Obama/Frank Kratovil and change the way politics are done in Washington. Barack will need help in Congress as we saw with the bailout and Frank Kratovil is the man to help him!

And please stop berating Frank Kratovil for saying he will be an ally of Gov. Martin O'Malley. And stop calling Frank a liberal, Frank is a progressive (on most issues, he has a few unfortunate outliers). Frank Kratovil knows that our next Congressman must work WITH Martin O'Malley, not against him. Frank Kratovil knows that our next Congressman must work WITH Barack Obama, not against him.

We need people like Frank Kratovil in Congress to make sure our progressive agenda is heard; universal healthcare, more rights for our hard workers and their unions, rights for women and people of different sexual orientations, more pay for our teachers, our environment!

Obama/Kratovil 08--protecting our shore!

10/05/08 9:21 am