Ehrlich's stock tumbles, along with his party's

A poisonous brew of revenge, ideology and personal ambition leaves former Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and his party reeling. With Mr. Ehrlich's assistance, the GOP lost half its already diminished representation in statewide public office. Any notion that he could be a kingmaker - or re-establish his own credentials - seemed mere fantasy after the ballots were counted.

Going into Election 2008, Republicans had a pair of House members. In the recent past it had four, and in the 1980s a U.S. senator. With Mr. Ehrlich's defeat by Gov. Martin O'Malley in 2006, the GOP had but two members in statewide office: Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett of Western Maryland's 6th District and the 1st District's Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest, a moderate with crossover appeal who represented the Eastern Shore and parts of Baltimore and Harford counties. Both were almost certain to be re-elected. Then came state Sen. Andy Harris, a doctrinaire conservative willing to wage a negative campaign. He defeated Mr. Gilchrest in a bitter primary. Chief among his backers was Mr. Ehrlich, apparently hoping to make a statement of his continuing electoral strength. And to even a score.

Mr. Gilchrest had opposed his slot machine gambling proposal. It was time for payback. Mr. Harris looked like a strong challenger in a usually conservative district. But Mr. Harris' tactics were not a winner. And he encountered an unexpectedly adept and well-financed challenger in Frank M. Kratovil Jr., the Queen Anne's County state's attorney.

The former governor, not himself a rigid ideologue, looked as if he had helped to engineer a grievous loss for his party and himself. If he couldn't show strength in the 1st District - where he had won by 67 percent in his losing race with Mr. O'Malley - where could he show it? Sen. John McCain was a clear winner in the district this year.

He and Mr. Harris lost, and their party is left to put the best face on it.

"I think this is a seat the Democrats have rented," said David R. Craig, the Harford County executive. Mr. Craig supported Mr. Gilchrest in the GOP primary, rebuffing Mr. Ehrlich's effort to recruit him for Mr. Harris. But he then supported Mr. Harris in the general election. He thinks Mr. Ehrlich can rebound from the loss. "It's not being defeated. It's how you handle defeat," he said.