Former Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney swooped into downtown Baltimore Friday to help Sen. Andy Harris raise over $75,000 in his race to win the seat in Maryland’s 1st Congressional District.
Romney, the ex-governor of Massachusetts, and Harris both touted the need for change in Washington and the need to work across party lines at a news conference before a $1,000-a-plate luncheon at the Center Club in the Legg Mason tower.
Harris “believes Washington is broken, that spending is too large, and taxes too high,” Romney said. “Washington has become so partisan” but “Andy Harris will be able to work in Washington across party lines to actually get things done and create change.”
Kevin Lawlor, a spokesman for Frank Kratovil, Harris’ Democratic opponent, was surprised that the Republicans were picking up on the theme of bipartisan solutions that Kratovil has espoused. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, the nine-term Republican Harris stomped in the primary, has endorsed Kratovil. During the primary, Harris criticized Gilchrest for lack of party loyalty.
“It’s pretty clear that [Harris] has been one of the most divisive members of the Senate,” sometimes the lone vote opposing popular legislation, Lawlor said. “He’s been a road block for a long time.”
As examples of working with Democrats, Harris cited his legislation to require paper ballots in Maryland, replacing the current touch screen machines. Harris, a John Hopkins Medical School anesthesiologist, also pointed to his work on health care.
Vincent DeMarco, director of Health Care for All, said Harris did support a bipartisan measure to make discounted drugs available to more people, but the plan was blocked by the Bush administration. DeMarco said he’s been trying to get an answer from Harris if he would support a bill in Congress to permit the state program.
Romney and Harris both said John McCain’s nomination of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin have changed the dynamics of the election.
“The 1st Congressional District is fascinated” with Palin and “with the idea of bringing that sort of reform to Washington,” Harris said. “It will have a positive effect on this race.”
Harris campaign manager Chris Meekins said since Palin’s nomination, the number of volunteers has doubled.
“There’s clearly a momentum shift,” Meekins said. “We’re going to pick up a lot of Palin supporters.”
The Harris camp has asked for Palin or Sen. John McCain to come into the state help Harris, but “we’re not anticipating it to happen,” Meekins said.
In a statement, Kratovil was critical of Romney’s appearance for Harris.
“He has lost so much support and momentum right here in the district that now he actually needs to import Republicans from other states to try and bolster his failing campaign,” Kratovil said. “This isn’t a surprise, considering so many of his individual donors have been from out of state, so why not import out-of-state cheerleaders as well?”
