David Paulson

It's not every day that the state Democratic Party's communication director and one of Maryland's most prominent Republicans agree on a party's political fortunes. But after former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele told a crowd of Republicans that "the Republican brand quite frankly sucks," David Paulson emailed PolitickerMD.com to express his empathy for Steele's idea.

"I don't disagree with Michael Steele on his low opinion of the Republican brand - it's in the toilet for a lot of reasons," Paulson wrote in an email to PolitickerMD.com. "But Republicans who think they only have a branding problem are fooling themselves. This isn't a public relations problem. This is a public trust problem."

And that's where the temporary agreement between Paulson and Steele ends.

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell: Getty Images PhotoPennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) will be attending the Maryland Democratic Party’s Victory ’08 Unity Fundraiser, PolitickerMD.com has confirmed.

According to David Paulson, the state Democratic Party’s communication director, Rendell will “not be the only big name from out of state.” However, Paulson was not prepared to confirm who else this would include. Those “eggs haven’t hatched yet,” he told PolitickerMD.com.

And now for the monthly round up of things you should know about, things you haven’t heard about yet or things you already know but I’m going to tell you what I feel about it anyway, it’s time for Burns-pourri to wrap up June.

Starting up with two things from my blog…

COLUMBIA – David Paulson told a crowd of about 15 on Sunday at a Columbia Democratic Club PAC fundraiser that the party is committed to gaining control of all eight seats in the state's congressional delegation.

The state Democratic Party communications officer touched on topics like building the state party, the presidential election and former Gov. Bob Ehrlich (R-Arbutus), but focused on U.S. House races.

Bartlett Press Secretary Says Debate Will Occur

Sixth district Democratic nominee Jennifer Dougherty (center)State Democrats distributed a release yesterday to more than 3,000 people on their e-mail list, demanding that U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Frederick) participate in a debate against his Democratic opponent, former Frederick Mayor Jennifer Dougherty.

"Jennifer Dougherty, Democratic candidate for the 6th Congressional District, has asked Roscoe Bartlett to a debate in every county in the 6th Congressional District - Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Montgomery and Washington Counties," the release declares. "It's a big district and Jennifer wants voters to have the chance to make their own choice, rather than relying on what the media might cover."

It continues: "Since February, Jennifer has asked five times for a debate in each county, but Roscoe's team says ‘NO,'" adding, "Why won't Roscoe debate in every county?"

Today, Bartlett Press Secretary Lisa Wright told PolitickerMD.com that "voters expect (Bartlett) will debate, and he will."

Johnson stumps for Clinton in February: Politicker PhotoPrince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson's decision to leave Hillary Clinton for Barack Obama rasies the question of how pledged is a pledged delegate?

Johnson told The Washington Post today he could not “in good conscience” go to the Democratic National Convention and continue to support Clinton.

Johnson is one of 28 so-called pledged delegates committed to Clinton within the state. In the Maryland primary last February, Obama defeated Clinton by a margin of 61 to 36 percent.

So, could Johnson legally support Obama at the convention if so desires? If so, could he do it on the first ballot? According to the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the answer is yes.

Former Gov. Parris Glendening and former Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend were selected by the state Democratic Central Committee as un-pledged add-on delegates to represent Maryland at the Democratic National Convention, this morning.

Despite their titles, Kennedy Townsend and Glendening have endorsed candidates during the primary cycle; Kennedy Townsend has been a vocal supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) for several months, while Glendening endorsed Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.) last December and has not officially endorsed another candidate since Richardson ended his campaign in January. Richardson, himself, endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in March.

An additional 15 at-large delegates and another 9 delegates selected from party leaders and elected officials were selected. Of these 24 delegates, which are tied to the state's popular vote, which Obama carried in the Feb. 12 primary by 24 points, 15 are pledged Obama supporters and 9 are pledged Clinton supporters. Four additional pledged at-large alternates, three of which are Obama supporters, were also selected.

As Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) spoke at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis this morning, representatives from the state’s Democratic and Republican parties were eager to discuss McCain’s chances of winning Maryland in November.

While Al Gore and John Kerry carried the state by a 15-point average in the last two election cycles, John Flynn, the executive director of the Maryland Republican Party, said this year’s presumptive GOP nominee has a “very good chance” of emerging victorious in the Free State.

“He has a connection to Maryland,” Flynn said, referring to the four years McCain spent as a student at the Naval Academy from 1954-1958.

“He prepared to serve his country in Maryland,” Flynn added.

Calling the senator a “tested leader,” Flynn said McCain’s “appeal with Independents and some Democrats” would make him “competitive” in Maryland.

David Paulson, the communications director of the Maryland Democratic Party, strongly disagreed, saying, “Maryland does not want four more years of George Bush through John W. McCain.”

David Paulson, the communications director of the Maryland Democratic Party, responded to Rep. Al Wynn’s (D-Mitchellville) decision to resign his seat in June.

“Were trying to figure out what the procedure is,” Paulson said when contacted by PolitickerMD.com.

“I believe the governor has to issue a proclamation for a primary and a general election,” after Wynn leaves office, Paulson said.

Wynn was defeated in his bid for reelection by Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) in the Feb. 12 Democratic primary. His term was scheduled to expire January 3.

Paulson said the prospects of a special election would be “costly and unfortunate.”

John Flynn, the Executive Director of the Maryland Republican Party, and David Paulson, the Communications Director of the Maryland Democratic Party, reacted to the scandal surrounding the resignation of Del. Robert A. McKee (R-Hagerstown), during interviews this afternoon with PolitickerMD.com. McKee resigned after authorities conducted a raid of his home amid allegations that the delegate possessed material related to child pornography.

“It’s a black eye for Maryland,” Flynn said, adding, “It’s not good for the Republican Party.”