Bob Ehrlich has chosen former Maryland secretary of state Mary Kane as his running mate.
Kane, 48, is a lawyer from Montgomery County — where the state’s second-highest number of registered Republicans live.
She served as secretary of state from 2005 to 2007 and lives in Potomac with her husband, former Maryland Republican Party chairman John Kane and their three children.
Ehrlich has been trailing Gov. Martin O’Malley in female votes, and both candidates have been campaigning hard in Montgomery.
But Ehrlich said geography and gender were secondary on his list of deciding factors, after personal and philosophical compatibility.
“I have found that partner to help us turn Annapolis around,” Ehrlich said as he announced his running mate pick on a video posted to Facebook Wednesday night.
Kane later joined Ehrlich on the video for her first debut as a prospective lieutenant governor.
“I love going out and meeting people,” she said. “When I was secretary of state before, I got to meet people from all over Maryland from all different cultures and from all different backgrounds and religions. It was one of the highlights of my life.”
Kane criticized O’Malley on raising taxes, but otherwise said little pertaining to the election. She kept the focus on her family and Maryland heritage.
“As an attorney in Maryland, also as a working mother — I have three great kids— and what I can bring to the office of lieutenant governor is all those perspectives and seeing it from my point of view,” she said.
At the end of the video, the running mates exchanged a cheeky display of affection.
“We’re gonna turn this state around, Mar,” Ehrlich said, emphasizing his use of a nickname.
“Everywhere I go I hear the same thing … I am really looking forward to working with you Gov,” Kane responded with equal emphasis on the last word.
