Republican staffers have been betting in an office pool for months on what date defeated Rep. Wayne Gilchrest would endorse Democrat Frank Kratovil against Republican Sen. Andy Harris, the man who walloped the congressman in a hard-fought primary.
Harris campaign manager Chris Meekins won the pool when it happened Tuesday in Annapolis.
The nine-term Republican moderate got behind Kratovil, the Democratic state’s attorney in Queen Anne’s County, as “an independent voice for what is best for the 1st Congressional District” and “a man after my own heart” who would carry on Gilchrest’s legacy of environmental advocacy.
At the Annapolis City Dock, Kratovil said Gilchrest’s action was “en example of bipartisanship.”
“We need a congressman who’s going to cross party lines,” Kratovil said.
Kratovil said the endorsement “obviously has something to do with the person I’m running against.” He called Harris “a poster child for extreme partisanship,” citing the senator’s lone voice in the Maryland senate against child care tax credits, reduced class size and a cancer prevention treatment program, even though Harris is a doctor.
“Attacking Harris on these kinds of things is a little ridiculous,” said Meekins, who said he would “trust Andy’s judgment” on the reasons for voting against a particular bill.
“Voters want a change from the failed policies of Congress — raising taxes, increasing wasteful spending and failing to solve our energy crisis,” Meekins said. “Andy Harris represents a change, Frank Kratovil obviously represents more of the same.”
Meekins continued to paint Kratovil as a tax-and-spend Democratic ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Gov. Martin O’Malley, who endorsed Kratovil early and raised money for him, as has most of the Democratic leadership in Maryland.
Harris had lambasted Gilchrest as a disloyal Republican who frequently sided with Democrats.
Harris beat Gilchrest decisively in the primary, but Kratovil campaign manager Tim McCann said the campaign’s polling “does indicate that an endorsement from Wayne is a significant factor.” He pointed out that Gilchrest has won more votes in the district than either Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich or President Bush.
Meeks said Gilchrest hadn’t face a strong opponent in years, and he expected the endorsement would have little effect on the race.
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