Gansler fundraises for Obama today

With Sen. Barack Obama's schedule understandably a little busy these days, Jim Shelton and Theresa Shaver are getting one of his top Maryland surrogates for their fundraiser today: Attorney General Doug Gansler.

Gansler will meet with supporters at Shelton and Shaver's Boyds house party this afternoon hoping to raise awareness and money on behalf of Obama's presidential bid.

"We have become strong Obama supporters and are interested in generating additional support," Shelton told PolitickerMD.com.

He said the response to the event from the local community "has been quite strong."

"We had originally hoped for about 25 people," Shelton said, "but now it could be as many as 100," Shelton said yesterday. "It keeps growing."

"They appear to be a good cross section - young and old, men and women," he added.

"I think this event is yet another reminder of the growing support in Maryland for Barack Obama," Michael Buckley, the communications director of Maryland for Obama, told PolitickerMD.com.

"We are building support at the grassroots level," Buckley added.

Buckley also weighed-in on the national campaign, saying he was "confident in victory" in both Nevada and South Carolina.

The communications director specifically referred to the presence of Rep. Elijah Cummings on the campaign trail in South Carolina, saying it was "very important."

Cummings co-chairs Maryland for Obama with Gansler.

In addition, Buckley acknowledged that "New Hampshire was obviously disappointing," but "we feel real good" about Obama's chances to win both the Maryland primary and the Democratic nomination.

The national Obama campaign has designated tomorrow as a "national day of action," planning rallies and events across the country. Buckley said he was "not personally involved" with tomorrow's campaign events.

Shelton, for his part, said "there are many reasons" why he and his wife support the senator from Illinois.

"We really admire his forthrightness, his approach to thinking about issues in a long term strategic and insightful fashion, his enlightened worldview, his inclusive approach to government and his proven achievements in bringing people together for needed legislation and other common goals," Shelton said.

In addition, Shelton said he thought Obama was "the most electable of the (Democratic) candidates."

Shelton said he was expecting "a number of other speakers," in addition to Gansler, "who will describe their experiences in Iowa and New Hampshire."

Gansler could not be reached for comment.