Wayne Gilchrist

The congressional campaign of Republican state Sen. Andy Harris wasn't fazed by an announcement Thursday from opponent Frank Kratovil that a pair of Republican county commission presidents had endorsed the Democrat.

One of those endorsers -- Kent County Board of Commissioners President Roy Crow -- is, in the words of Harris spokesman Chris Meekins, a "disgruntled Wayne Gilchrist supporter."

Meekins said Crow has been behind Kratovil since the end of the primary, so his endorsement is not news.

In time, Meekins said, the similarities between Kratovil and Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley would be enough to cement a victory for Harris.

"The most important endorsement in this race has been Martin O’Malley has endorsed our opponent," Meekins said. "When voters find out that he agrees with O’Malley’s policies of raising taxes and increasing wasteful government spending, they will come running with open arms to support Andy Harris."

Harris and Kratovil are battling for the 1st Congressional District seat currently held by Gilchrist.

Donna Edwards, with her son Jared, ousted Rep. Albert Wynn in the Democratic primaryTwo incumbent Maryland Congressmen were lost their bids for re-election in Tuesday’s primary, while Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain easily won their respective presidential primaries.

State Sen. Andy Harris ousted seven-term Rep. Wayne Gilchrest by a 44%-32% margin, with State Sen. E.J. Pipkin, a late entrant into the race, finishing third with 21%. Joe Arminio and Robert Banks each won 2% in the first district GOP primary. Harris will face Frank Kratovil, who won the Democratic nod by a 40%-31% margin over Christopher Robinson and two others.

In District 4, eight-term Rep. Albert Wynn was defeated in the Democratic primary by Donna Edwards, a lawyer and community activist who came within 2,725 votes of defeating Wynn in the 2006 primary. She will face Republican James Peters, who won a competitive four-way primary with 39%.