Maryland's 1st Congressional District

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."

Believe it or not, the last day of the first half of the year is only two weeks away. In this immensely exciting campaign year, we now stand only 140 days away from Election Day. The close of June signifies the end of the second financial quarter, and the fundraising totals in Maryland's 1st Congressional District are vital to the hopes of State's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) and state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville).

In the first quarter of the year Harris raised $401,168.22 and had $205,688 cash on hand, while Kratovil raised $189,713.87 and had $182,058 cash on hand. Those figures were slightly skewed because of a $20,000 loan that Harris provided to his campaign fund. Harris was forced to spend significantly more than Kratovil in the final weeks of his successful primary, which led to the similar cash on hand figure.

Recently, Kratovil told PolitickerMD.com that his campaign would make "no projections" as to their second quarter fundraising abilities, saying, "We'll raise enough to be competitive."

Harford County Executive David Craig (R) was an early supporter of incumbent Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Kennedyville) in his 2008 campaign for re-election, but even with Gilchrest out of the race, Craig is still backing the Republican candidate. 

"Wayne and I are close friends," Craig explained to PolitickerMD.com. "We've known each other since 1990."

Since losing to state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) in February's GOP primary, Gilchrest, a moderate, has been highly critical of the more conservative Harris, indicating that he will not support Harris' candidacy in Maryland's 1st Congressional District.

Craig, however, has made his support for Harris clear.

Harford County Exec. David Craig: Politicker PhotoClaims GOP Unity

HAVRE DE GRACE-- State Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) held a fundraiser before the Harford County Conservative Business Caucus in the ballroom of the Bulle Rock Golf Course in Havre de Grace, this evening.

Harris, the GOP nominee in Maryland's 1st Congressional District, was joined by Harford County Executive David Craig (R) and former Gov. Bob Ehrlich (R), along with a crowd of roughly 60 supporters.

Campaign Manager Chris Meekins told PolitickerMD.com prior to the event that the campaign expected to raise between 40 and $50,000 for the evening.

"The fact of the matter is, you have to raise money," Harris said, addressing the audience.

"You need about $1.2 million to do this," he added. "We're about halfway there."

Andy Harris: Politicker PhotoLINTHICUM -- Speaking with PolitickerMD.com tonight at the Maryland Republican Party's Red, White and Blue dinner, state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) said that if the allegations of personal problems swirling around Minority Leader David Brinkley (R-New Market) are true, "Voters would expect" Brinkley to step down from his leadership position.

Harris, the GOP nominee in Maryland's 1st Congressional District, said he would not comment about the rumors of "domestic problems," and said "nobody has talked to me" about calling for Brinkley to step aside from the party's top Senate post.

At the portrait unveiling ceremony for former Gov. Bob Ehrlich (R) and his wife Kendel last night in Annapolis, state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) predicted that Ehrlich will run for governor in 2010.

"Personally, I think he will and I hope he does," Harris told PolitickerMD.com.

Ehrlich was an early supporter of Harris' successful primary campaign in Maryland's 1st Congressional District.

Democrats have not held power in Maryland's 1st Congressional District since Roy Dyson represented the Eastern Shore from 1981-1991. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Kennedyville) defeated Dyson in the 1990 elections, and has held the seat since, but when state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) defeated Gilchrest in the 2008 GOP primary, many Democrats began to focus on the district.

"I think this is the best chance we've had in years to reclaim the seat," Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Towson) of the 3rd Congressional District told PolitickerMD.com this past weekend.

The party's nominee, Queen Anne's County State's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville), "represents a very strong candidate for Democrats," Sarbanes said.

Speaking with PolitickerMD.com over the weekend, Maryland Democratic Party Chairman Michael Cryor said many of the state party's 500 volunteer coordinators would spend a significant portion of their time and energy working to elect State's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) in Maryland's 1st Congressional District.

"The race is becoming increasingly more competitive," Cryor said, calling Kratovil "a proven candidate" who can "work with the delegation."

The party chair said as many as 200 people attended a recent Kratovil volunteer session, and said state Democrats would continue to make their presence felt along the Eastern Shore.