Robert Banks

First District Debate: In Wye MillsWYE MILLS - Democratic and Republican candidates competing in the race to serve Maryland in the First Congressional District participated in a debate this afternoon here at Chesapeake College.

Seven candidates, including Republicans Wayne Gilchrest, Andy Harris, and Robert Banks, along with Democrats Frank Kratovil, Christopher Robinson, Steve Harper, and Joseph Werner were present. GOP candidates E.J. Pipkin and Joe Arminio were absent.

The debate focused on a variety of issues, including the war in Iraq, illegal immigration, health care, the deficit, and the environment. Audience members posed questions to the candidates throughout the course of the event.

Andy Harris and E.J. Pipkin's campaigns don't agree on much these days, but the opinion coming out of Thursday night's candidate forum was unanimous.

Robert Joseph BanksState Sen. E.J. Pipkin's entry into the 1st District Republican primary is drawing all kinds of speculation relating to his motives, mostly related to how serious his bid is and whether Rep. Wayne Gilchrest might have encouraged him to run to sink conservative challenger state Sen. Andy Harris.

But Cristen Pascuccithe, campaign manager of longshot candidate Robert Banks, has a different theory.

If E.J. Pipkin wants to run for Congress, he'll need to decide soonSources close to State Sen. E.J. Pipkin are keeping mum about him prospectively entering the February 12th Republican primary against Rep. Wayne Gilchrest.

First District conservatives, who are angrier than ever at the middle-of-the-road Gilchrest, had originally favored Pipkin to challenge the Congressman. Many urged him to run, but when he demurred last spring, Republicans turned elsewhere.

Now that Pipkin looks like he's getting in, don't expect conservative fallback State Sen. Andy Harris to go anywhere.