Steve Meehan

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."

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reported having more than $45 million in cash on hand at the end of April, according to reports filed yesterday with the Federal Election Commission, while the National Republican Congressional Committee reported about $6.7 million cash on hand.

That stark difference could be significant in Maryland's 1st congressional district, where state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) and State's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) are expected to be in a competitive race.

Congressional candidate Frank KratovilSteve Meehan, deputy campaign manager for 1st congressional district candidate Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville), expressed confidence today that the campaign could financially compete with rival Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville).

Yesterday, we reported on Harris' confidence in his campaigns ability to "raise between 3 and $400,000" per financial quarter.

Comparing fundraising to "a game of golf," Meehan told PolitickerMD.com, "You have to continuously advance the ball."

Acknowledging that Harris "has been good" at raising funds, Meehan said he did not know if the campaign could draw-even with their opponent financially, but said, "We're working very hard."

In Maryland's 1st Congressional District, state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) and State's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) each held picnic-style events over the weekend charging roughly $25 a head for adults.

For Kratovil, the Sunday gathering came four days after a Chestertown-based fundraiser, which drew a crowd of roughly 40 people and netted just under $20,000 for the campaign, according to Campaign Manager Steve Meehan.

Meehan was particularly impressed with what he called a "mixed bag of Republicans and Democrats" that were present at the fundraiser.

Former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele told PolitickerMD.com today that he would give “high consideration” to accepting a cabinet position if Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is elected president in November and offers the Marylander a seat.

“I’d look to help Sen. McCain in any way possible,” Steele said when asked if he would be interested in the vice presidency or any other cabinet position.

Initially, Steele said the idea was “so not on the page,” saying he was focused on his responsibilities as chairman of GOPAC, the conservative political action committee (PAC) that trains Republican candidates to run for elected office.

When asked if he would rule out the notion, however, Steele said, “No.”

“My mother taught me that you don’t rule anything out,” he added.

It was then that Steele mentioned his high regards for McCain, and after saying he would have to discuss the idea of a cabinet position with his family, Steele acknowledged that he would highly consider the opportunity.

The former lieutenant governor also weighed-in on the defeat of Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Kennedyville) in Maryland’s Feb. 12 congressional primary.

Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville), the State’s Attorney for Queen Anne’s County and Democratic nominee in Maryland’s First Congressional District is a career prosecutor and political moderate. It is with that law and order background and independence that the 39-year-old begins his general election campaign against state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville).

Steve Meehan, Kratovil’s campaign manager, told PolitickerMD.com that his candidates’ “skill at consensus building” would aide his effort to secure victory in a district that has not been represented by a Democrat since Roy Dyson in 1990.

“At the end of the day—it’s a pretty middle of the road place,” Meehan said in reference to the first district.

Chris Meekins, the Campaign Manager for state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville), said his candidates’ opponent in Maryland’s First Congressional District, State’s Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville), was trying “to run as far away” from Gov. Martin O’Malley “as he could.”

In recent days, the Harris campaign has been highlighting the removal of photos from Kratovil’s campaign website, which showed the candidate with the Democratic governor.

Steve Meehan, Kratovil’s Campaign Manager, said those specific pictures were not intentionally removed, telling PolitickerMD.com that the campaign was “re-doing the whole website.”

Steve Meehan, the campaign manager for the congressional campaign of Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville), discussed his candidates’ victory over Christopher Robinson in yesterday’s Democratic primary in Maryland’s First Congressional District.

“We’re very happy,” Meehan said. “I’m glad we stuck with our plan.”

Kratovil, the State’s Attorney for Queen Anne’s County, defeated Robinson, an attorney from Dorchester County, 40% to 31%.

Entering the final week before Marylanders go to the polls,  Democrat Frank Kratovil is heavily favored to win his party's nomination in the First District congressional primary.

But according to campaign manager Steve Meehan, they're taking nothing for granted.

"Frank is out going door to door," Meehan told PolitickerMD.com, when asked about Kratovil's plans for this week. 

Kratovil ran two successful state's attorney campaigns in conservative Queen Anne's County in a strong Democratic year in 2006, and a weak one in 2002.