Strange Bedfellows

Republican Del. Pat McDonough is expected to officially announce his “testing the waters” campaign for governor in the next day or two.

In addition to more fully explaining that concept — and some of his issues he’ll be running on — the delegate said he will clarify his statement that he would not run for governor if Republican former Gov. Robert Ehrlich decides to run.

There’s apparently some fine print to that statement.

“The caveat is that I will not run if (Ehrlich) supports all the issues I care about,” McDonough explained this morning.

McDonough said he plans to sign a pledge promising to not raise taxes while he is governor. He said he is concerned that Gov. Martin O’Malley, if re-elected, will  surprise voters with “an ambush tax” in 2011 to cover state budget deficits.

McDonough said he plans to run on a platform that includes education issues and criminal justice issues including gang-related crime. And yes, illegal immigration will continue to be a part of his campaign as well.

McDonough said he believes Ehrlich, if he runs, would have similar views on issues.

“Other than Constellation Energy, which we might differ on a little bit, I don’t see why (Ehrlich) wouldn’t,” McDonough said.

County Executive Jim Smith’s recent announcement raised questions pertaining to his future and what might happen to the more than $1 million he has raised since being re-elected in 2006.

Smith’s statement (you can read it here) is all we have to go on officially. The county executive declined to be interviewed on the subject before leaving town to visit a daughter (who was expecting to give birth this week).

But sources within the Smith campaign were willing to shed some light on the subject. (more…)

Gov. Martin O’Malley and Maryland legislators want state employees facing unpaid days off this holiday season to know they feel their pain.

The guv and the others are taking a pay cut, too, after all.

But not all are taking quite as big a cut, relatively speaking. State workers will lose full before-taxes pay while O’Malley and the legislators are giving back an amount based on their net, or after-taxes, income. (more…)

Michael Pappas, a Perry Hall resident, might be the first Republican to declare his interest in running for Maryland governor in 2010.

On Dec. 9, Pappas, who has never run for public office, formed an exploratory committee to look at a possible run for governor in two years. (more…)

Maryland Democrats have trained their sights on Pennsylvania as Election Day moves closer to its conclusion.

Leading the charge and thanking the troops was Gov. Martin O’Malley.

O’Malley, just back from a late night in Pennsylvania was on a swing of polling precincts and several Democratic Party headquarters. It’s a statewide tour that he referred to more than once as “Obama-rama.” (more…)

Maybe he really likes Comptroller Peter Franchot and Sen. Jim Brochin. Maybe he doesn’t.

Gov. Martin O’Malley isn’t saying and sure isn’t copping to encouraging others to run against his fellow Democrats in the 2010 primary.

“The election is light years away, and I really don’t spend a whole lot of time musing about what will happen two years from now,” O’Malley said.

O’Malley took questions on both Franchot and Brochin during a meeting with Patuxent Publishing Co.’s Baltimore County editors Wednesday afternoon. And in answering the questions, he never mentioned either Franchot or Brochin by name.

It’s long been rumored that County Executive Jim Smith has been raising money like they were going to suddenly stop printing it with an eye toward running for state office.

It’s no secret that O’Malley and Franchot don’t exactly see eye to eye, and some other Dems say the governor would favor Smith. Earlier this year,  Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, who also is not on Franchot’s Christmas card list, told me he was introducing Smith around at a Prince George’s County fundraiser as the “next comptroller.”

“I’ve enjoyed working with County Executive Jim Smith,” O’Malley said, calling him “one of the most capable public servants.”

“I’m sure he’ll have lots of options,” O’Malley concluded.

As for Brochin, word is that some don’t believe the two-term senator is a reliable vote for the governor. Enter the rumor that Martin Knott, a Towson resident and president of Knott Mechanical, is being encouraged to challenge Brochin in the Democratic primary two years from now.

So, is O’Malley pushing Knott to run against Brochin?

“He’s his own man,” O’Malley said. “He’s a good person and helps us on workforce issues. No one controls anyone.”

So, is Knott Senate material? The question drew some snickers from O’Malley’s staff.

“He’s certainly knowledgeable on public policy issues and is personable and a person who is well liked,” O’Malley said.