Hard feelings in debate in 1st Hard feelings mark debate in 1st District

Harris, Kratovil echo the harsh accusations from their campaign commercials

Election 2008

Libertarian Richard James Davis also appeared at the event yesterday at Chesapeake College; he spoke for low taxes and limited government, and said he was opposed to the war in Iraq from the beginning. Former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican, attended in support of Harris.

The debate came as outside groups stepped up spending in the district. The anti-tax Club for Growth, which sent $1.2 million Harris' way for the primary, announced a $100,000 ad buy yesterday.

The two 15-second spots, to air in the Baltimore and Salisbury markets, conclude that Kratovil is "extremely liberal." A Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee advertisement that began running on Sunday claims Harris' agenda ignores the middle class.

Harris' own campaign launched a pair of 15-second ads featuring the endorsement of Ehrlich, who took 67 percent of the district vote in 2006. The Kratovil campaign, which has touted the support of Gilchrest, released a pair of commercials featuring him and other Republicans saying they plan to vote for Kratovil.