WYPR - Kratovil, Harris Fight Hard for 1st District Seat

News Article

By Joel McCord

When Kratovil and Harris tangled in 2008, the hotly-contested campaign often revolved around bitter recriminations as much as policy disagreements. And this race is no different.

Harris, who never stopped campaigning after his narrow loss two years ago, took on Kratovil's ads early in a League of Women Voters candidate's forum Sunday at Queen Anne's County High School.

"Mr. Kratovil, your ads have been called phony by the Annapolis Capital, and they've been called baloney by Fact Check dot org. And it's because you just make stuff up. Thank you."

And Kratovil went early and often to a recent newspaper endorsement.

"And I just want to read you one quote. In endorsing me, the Aegis newspaper, a Harford County newspaper, said this about my opponent. Or do we want someone who stands apart and criticizes and brings nothing to the table, which sums up Harris."

Throughout the campaign, Harris, has tried to tie Kratovil to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and President Obama, two wildly unpopular office holders in this determinedly conservative district that includes all of the Eastern Shore and parts of Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Harford counties.

In the Queen Anne's forum, Harris worked in eight mentions of Pelosi, seven of Obama and five of "Obamacare," the health care measure passed earlier this year.

"She sees the Obama-Pelosi team doing everything it can to make it as hard Nancy Pelosi's been in charge of Congress for four years. We've had four years of record deficits Nancy Pelosi adjourned Congress and Mr. Kratovil came home 10 days early Let's talk a little bit about Obamacare."

Harris says Kratovil is on the same team as Pelosi and Obama.

The charge has had some effect. David Fischer of Severna Park echoed Harris' arguments after the debate.

"Personally, I believe big government's the problem and I think the big government we have right now in Washington with Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama has made a bad situation much worse and I think Andy can do some things to fix it."

Kratovil, meanwhile, stresses his independence, noting that he voted against the health care bill, but for the 787 billion-dollar stimulus package.

"As my friend next to me said, I've been independent. I'm ranked as one the top 10 most independent members of Congress."

And he criticizes Harris as a polarizing figure during his time in the General Assembly.

"My opponent in the state Senate, even Republicans in the state Senate, believe he is divisive and that he represents exactly what we don't need in Washington."

Courtney Billups, the first African-American Queen Anne's County commissioner, confirmed that local Republicans have their concerns about Harris as well.

"He has always been known to be a divisive and polarizing figure, he, quite frankly, relishes in it and that's his claim to fame. Particularly in these times, that just certainly is not what our district, or this country needs."

Harris touts his endorsement by Trust in Small Business, a Florida based conservative PAC, but Kratovil has been endorsed by the larger U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Harris dismisses that.

"This is inside the Capital Beltway politics at its best or worst, whichever way you look at it. Pretty clearly Frank Kratovil supports card check, he supports a lot of things that are anti business, but he's the incumbent, so he gets the endorsement."

Despite Kratovil's precarious position down three points in a recent independent poll the national Democratic party has begun pouring money into this race more than $800,000 at last count. It suggests party leaders think they can salvage this seat even in the predicted oncoming Republican wave.

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