Democrats stay above the fray in District 1

With Republican infighting already reaching a fever pitch in the race for U.S. Congress from the First District, Democrats are increasingly confident in their chances of capturing the seat.

Frank Kratovil“There’s not a whole lot we can do except sit back and smile,” said Maryland Democratic Party spokesman David Paulsen. “The more they fight the more they nick and damage each other. At this point it looks like it doesn’t matter who wins.”

Republican Congressman Wayne Gilchrest, who is serving his eighth term, is facing a primary challenge from prominent State Senators E.J. Pipkin, 51, and Andy Harris, 60.

Pipkin and Harris are portraying Gilchrest as too moderate. And Pipkin and Harris are squabbling over who is more conservative.

“Pipkin and Gilchrest are two tax-and-spend peas in a liberal pod,” Andy Harris’s campaign said in a statement after Pipkin formally entered into the race.

For now, Democrats are taking a stay-above-the-fray approach.

“Democrats will campaign on positive messages and not try to rip each other to shreds,” said Paulsen.

Christopher RobinsonDemocratic candidate Frank Kratovil, the State’s Attorney for Queen Anne’s County, said he was focused on promoting a positive, issues-oriented message. “Voters want to know how you are different,” said Kratovil, 39, a first-time candidate for U.S. Congress.

“The strategy of our campaign is to show people that I’m different and can do a better job (than other candidates in the race).”

For Kratovil, a Democrat running in a moderately conservative district, that means emphasizing his twelve-year-career as a prosecutor.

Attorney Christopher Robinson, who is also running for the Democratic nomination, said he was intent on presenting an agenda to voters focused on Iraq, healthcare, and energy independence.

He predicted that a bitter primary would leave the Republican field divided and weak.

“Whoever wins the nomination will be tarnished, weakened by the other person’s brush.”

Maryland Republican Party Chairman Dr. James Pelura brushed aside concerns.

“This is democracy in action. All the candidates feel their message best represents the citizens in District 1.”

Pelura said that a Democratic message would ultimately not prevail in the District.

“The bottom line is anyone who has a 'D' behind their name belongs to the party of Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Martin O’Malley.”