Strange Bedfellows

Republican Del. Pat McDonough said after Wednesday’s opening General Assembly session that he’s no longer considering a run for governor and is setting his sights again on running for Baltimore County executive in 2010.

Earlier this year, McDonough said he was considering a run for county executive only to change course a few months later and announce was testing the gubernatorial waters. The caveat was that he wouldn’t run if Republican former Gov. Robert Ehrlich sought a rematch with Democrat Gov. Martin O’Malley.

“I believe (Ehrlich) is running, that’s my opinion,” McDonough said in an interview. “I see a lot more activity, a lot more enthusiasm and a lot more commitments for fundraising. I see the intensity is there.” (more…)

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.

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…)