Deborah Vollmer

Gordon Clark (left), Steve Hudson, Bill Parsons, Deborah Vollmer and Lih Young: Politicker Photo 

ROCKVILLE -- Just because he was absent, doesn't mean Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D) wasn't the 600-pound gorilla in the room at Thursday's debate. Van Hollen, required to attend an impromptu caucus meeting on an emergency financial program, sent legislative director Bill Parsons in his stead. And the challengers, all eager to give the incumbent a piece of their mind, were forced to settle for the stand-in.

Repeat Eighth District congressional candidate Deborah Vollmer will run yet again, waging a write-in campaign in the November election.

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, and Joe Biden have designated their Maryland delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

Dennis Kucinich has authorized only one convention delegate: biennial Van Hollen primary challenger Deborah Vollmer.

Among Republicans, Ron Paul is so far the only candidate to have authorized his Maryland district delegates to the GOP convention.