Several hundred anti-tax "Tea Party" protesters converged on a courtyard outside the governor's mansion Wednesday night after the Maryland General Assembly opened its legislative session, shouting, "Vote them out."
The star protester: Former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican who is considering a rematch against the Democratic governor who defeated him four years ago.
Ehrlich, who attended the rally with his wife, Kendel, and several former aides, did not speak but milled around the gathering of activists. The crowd appeared to embrace him - there were multiple handmade signs bearing his name.
"I have not seen many crowds this size," the former governor said to reporters. "It is a cold night, and there are an awful lot of people."
As he has in the past, Ehrlich deflected questions about whether he will challenge Gov. Martin O'Malley this fall.
"The truth is, there's a process, and they know that," Ehrlich said. "I'm following the process and expect it to be complete within a month or two. People are respectful of that."
Ehrlich had promoted the rally on his WBAL radio show, calling for "a couple thousand, minimum" to show up and protest what organizers called "O'Malley's fiscal mismanagement."
Protesters want to "send a message" that "taxpayers are not happy" with the state government, said Dave Schwartz, the state director of Americans for Prosperity, which organized the event.
Schwartz said "people are dissatisfied. It is a frustration with both parties."
Nationally, the Tea Party movement includes loosely organized groups of conservatives who stress reducing taxes and government spending. They were particularly vocal opposing health care reform during town hall meetings last summer. Schwartz, a former Ehrlich fundraiser, said he thinks the former governor "plays well" with those groups.
The strength of Tea Party support in heavily Democratic Maryland - or nationally - is not clear. Last month, a Wall Street Journal poll reported that 41 percent of respondents had a favorable view of the movement. The same poll showed Republicans were viewed positively by 28 percent and Democrats by 35 percent.
Tickets to the first "Tea Party Nation" convention next month in Nashville, Tenn., where former GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin is set to speak, have sold out, according to its Web site.
Despite the event's being just outside the governor's home, Ehrlich said he doubted O'Malley would get the message.
