Gene Ransom

Outgoing U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Kennedyville) may be leaving Congress, but that doesn't mean he'll necessarily be leaving Washington, D.C. Gilchrest's name is being kicked around as a potential candidate for a position at the Environmental Protection Agency.

"He'd be a great pick," Gene Ransom, a Democratic Queen Anne's County Commissioner, told PolitickerMD.com. "I also think Obama's very serious about brining Republicans in."

GRASONVILLE -- Former U.S. Sen. Joseph Davies Tydings (D-Harford County) said Tuesday that Democrat Frank Kratovil, who he's known since Kratovil was two years of age, will win on Election night. He predicted the race won't be close enough for absentee ballots to be counted on Thursday.

"There's gotta be less than 1,000 votes to go to absentee ballot," Tydings told PolitickerMD.com at the Crab Deck, where Kratovil is holding his Election night party.

Tydings said Kratovil's fundraising strength was a key reason he was able to run such a competitive race, adding Republican Andy Harris's last minute attacks were "miserable" and "scurrilous."

There is little doubt the 1st Congressional District race has become very close, but Republicans are saying their candidate has the edge, while Democrats see it as a dead heat.

The race between Democrat Frank Kratovil and Republican Andy Harris is "incredibly close," Andrew Langer, the president of the Institute for Liberty, told PolitickerMD.com.

Langer, who also serves as Maryland for McCain's Eastern Shore coordinator, said Harris is ahead by about 3 points, but said that lead was closer to 12 points after the February primaries.

Maryland's 1st Congressional District race could be decided by the roughly 60,000 voters in Cecil County.

While Republican Andy Harris can claim the Western Shore as his stronghold and Democrat Frank Kratovil the Eastern Shore, Cecil County remains a toss-up with just about 2,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans.

That's not to say both candidates don't have their vulnerabilities. Observers point to Queen Anne's County and Anne Arundel County as competitive, but none as unpredictable as Cecil.

Come listen to a tale from your Uncle Kenny about two counties. One is in the Capital Region, the other is on the Eastern Shore. Both of the legislative bodies are majority Democrat. Both of them have addressed illegal immigration, however not in the same way.

Let’s begin with the county on the shore, Queen Anne’s County. In February of this year, the Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to pass a resolution requiring all vendors doing business with the county to follow immigration laws. Any failure to do so will result in the termination of the relationship between the county and vendor.