Erik Gulbrandsen

State Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) announced his energy plan during a speech before the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce this afternoon. The GOP nominee in Maryland's 1st Congressional District, Harris, a physician, called his proposal a "prescription for the pain at the pump," pledging to "take the lead in fighting against these out of control gas prices."

"Working families should not be forced to decide whether to fill up the gas tank or put food on their table," Harris said.

The campaigns of State's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) and state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) reacted today to Wednesday's news that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has added Kratovil to their Red to Blue program.

"I think it is an indicator that the Kratovil campaign is doing the right things and national Democrats believe Frank can win," Erik Gulbrandsen, communications director for the Kratovil campaign, told PolitickerMD.com.

Kratovil was among 14 candidates added to the program yesterday. The DCCC provides financial, strategic, and communications support to those candidates on the list with the hope of putting Republican seats in the Democratic column.

Appearing as a guest on the Delmarva Today radio show June 13, State's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville), a Democrat running in the 1st Congressional District, expressed his opposition to lifting a federal ban on offshore oil drilling, calling instead for the country to use "what we have now."

Today, Kratovil Communications Director Erik Gulbrandsen told PolitickerMD.com that Kratovil supports two pieces of recently introduced congressional legislation, the Responsible Ownership of Public Lands Act and the Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act of 2008, which, according to House Democrats, would "compel oil companies to utilize the 68 million acres onshore and offshore that are being leased by big oil companies, but not used to produce energy."

State Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) leads State's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) by nine points in Maryland's 1st Congressional District, according to a new survey conducted by the Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group for the Kratovil campaign.

Harris was favored by 43 percent of respondents, while Kratovil garnered 34 percent, with 23 percent undecided.

Kratovil, however, led by a margin of 45-38 among the 25 percent of respondents who recognized the candidate's names.

Rep. Chris Van HollenRep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Kensington), the chairman of the 2008 Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), was the honorary host of a fundraiser held on behalf of congressional candidate and State’s Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) at Cottingham Farm in Easton, this evening.

Kratovil will face Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) in the November election in Maryland’s First Congressional District.

Speaking with PolitickerMD.com, Van Hollen called Kratovil a “terrific candidate” who “fits the political temperament of the district” and has a “good chance” of winning.

“We will do everything we can to support his effort,” Van Hollen said of the DCCC.

Erik Gulbrandsen, Kratovil’s communications director, said he did not know how much money the campaign expected to raise from the event, but said the cost was $250 per person.

On the fundraising question, Kratovil told PolitickerMD.com that he was pleased with the recent numbers from the first financial quarter reports, saying, “We’re dead even in cash on hand.”

Despite trailing Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) in money raised and cash on hand, the campaign of Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) expressed confidence in their first quarter earnings during an interview today with PolitickerMD.com.

According to data released by the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Kratovil raised $189,713.87 through the March 31 first quarter deadline, leaving him with $182,058 cash on hand.

Harris raised $401,168.22 and has $205,688 cash on hand for his campaign in Maryland’s First Congressional District.

Kratovil Communications Director Erik Gulbrandsen said he was “pleased” at the numbers, calling it a “good start,” particularly considering “we are so close in cash on hand.”

Lynn Caligiuri, a longtime aide to Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Kennedyville) has been hired by the congressional campaign of Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) to assist in fundraising matters, according to Erik Gulbrandsen, the campaign’s communications director.

“She will be helping us to go after some of the Republican money and some of the national money,” Gulbrandsen told PolitickerMD.com.

Gilchrest lost his bid for re-nomination to Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) in February’s Republican primary in Maryland’s First Congressional District.

Kratovil, the Democratic nominee, has been courting Gilchrest supporters; both men are political moderates.

Tony Caligiuri, Lynn’s husband and Gilchrest’s chief of staff, has already pledged his support to Kratovil. Gilchrest has not endorsed a candidate.

Chris Meekins, Harris’ campaign manager, could not be reached for immediate comment.

The congressional campaign of State's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) denied that the candidate will receive the endorsement of Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Kennedyville) at a fundraiser in Stevensville this evening.

Speaking with PolitickerMD.com, Eric Gulbrandsen, Kratovil's communications director, said Gilchrest was "not on the guest list that I've seen."

Tony Caligiuri, the chief of staff to Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Kennedyville), was among a crowd of approximately 50 guests at a breakfast gathering of the organization “Republicans for Kratovil” at the Kent Center in Chestertown, this morning.

Queen Anne's County State's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) will face state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) in the November election in Maryland's First Congressional District. Harris defeated Gilchrest in the Feb. 12 GOP primary.

Other Republicans who attended the breakfast included Tony Caligiuri's wife, Lynn, who has also worked for Gilchrest. Karen Willis, a Gilchrest office manager, attended, along with Kent County Commissioner Roy Crow.

Kent County State's Attorney Robert Strong, a Democrat, was also present.

Something you might have forgotten: as of the 2006 elections, Democrats still outnumbered Republicans in the First District.