Exploratory Committee

Del. Jon Cardin -- nephew to U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin -- publicly launched his pre-campaign to be Maryland's next attorney general this morning with an email declaring that he's formed an "exploratory committee. " The field already includes Senate Judicial Proceedings Chairman Brian Frosh, a Montgomery County Democrat. Also rumored to be considering a run are former U.S. Rep. Frank Kratovil and Del. Bill Frick. Current AG Doug Gansler is widely expected to run for governor in 2014 -- creating a vacancy.

Del. Jon Cardin -- nephew to U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin -- publicly launched his pre-campaign to be Maryland's next attorney general this morning with an email declaring that he's formed an "exploratory committee. " The field already includes Senate Judicial Proceedings Chairman Brian Frosh, a Montgomery County Democrat. Also rumored to be considering a run are former U.S. Rep. Frank Kratovil and Del. Bill Frick. Current AG Doug Gansler is widely expected to run for governor in 2014 -- creating a vacancy.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Gov. Pete Wilson will launch an exploratory committee for the 1996 presidential campaign -- most likely this week -- in a move that sources portray as a necessary formality before his official entry into the Republican race.Wilson officials said that although the governor's announcement falls short of an official presidential declaration, it should be considered a confirmation that Mr. Wilson has decided to seek the presidency.They said the exploratory committee is a step to organize a national campaign staff before an official campaign is launched.

Democratic former Congressman Frank Kratovil's name could appear on the ballot again in 2014, if a group of supporters have their way. A "recruit Frank Kratovil" campaign has been launched to entice him to run for Attorney General in the next state-wide election. Kratovil, now a district judge in Queen Anne's County, represented the first congressional district for a single term. He was defeated by Andy Harris, a Republican. "There is no one in Maryland more qualified to do the job," said Anne Arundel County Councilman Jamie Benoit, a Crownsville Democrat, who is a close friend and is helping to lead the effort.

Del. Steven R. Schuh said Thursday he has formed an exploratory committee to examine a run for Anne Arundel County Executive in 2014. Schuh, a Pasadena Republican, said the committee was formed in the fall and had its first meeting in October. The disclosure comes as Schuh, who has long been rumored to be considering a run, is leading the pack in fundraising prowess among possible candidates to replace County Executive John R. Leopold, who is term-limited. Schuh has $283,000 in on-hand campaign cash, with $250,000 raised in 2011, according to recently released campaign finance reports.

In Maryland 2 lawsuits challenge governor's Assembly redistricting plan ANNAPOLIS - Two lawsuits challenging Gov. Parris N. Glendening's General Assembly redistricting plan were filed yesterday, the first business day since the governor's map became law. Prince George's County Executive Wayne K. Curry and six other registered voters filed a petition with the Maryland Court of Appeals, arguing that the map denies minorities fair representation....

Senate Judicial Proceedings Chairman Brian Frosh announced this morning that he has formed an exploratory committee to help him determine if he should run for Attorney General in 2014. The committee includes a long list of impressive names, including two former governors, all six Baltimore City senators and the county executives from Montgomery and Prince George's counties -- the two largest in the state. “These are people I greatly respect, and having their advice, support and endorsement means a great deal to me,” said Frosh, a Montgomery County Democrat.

Longtime Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee chairman Brian Frosh may throw his hat into the Attorney General race in 2014, he confirmed to The Sun via text message. “I want to be attorney general," Frosh said in an interview. "If it looks like the stars are aligned, that's  what I'm going to do.” Frosh said that in the past two days, he's been calling friends and colleagues and "getting a great response. " In the "next few weeks," he will likely announce an exploratory committee.  It is widely believed that current Attorney General Doug Gansler will run for governor in 2014.

WASHINGTON -- Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder's long-shot candidacy for the 1992 Democratic presidential nomination moved closer to the starting line yesterday when he authorized formation of an exploratory committee.The new committee will enable him to begin raising money for a 1992 race, a process that must start early for candidates who lack a national financial base or the ability to amass large sums of money in a relatively short period.Mr. Wilder, the nation's first elected black governor, has scarcely concealed his presidential aspirations.

ARKANSAS GOV. Bill Clinton told the American Bar Assn. that George Bush is no Dwight Eisenhower.He said that Bush had not acted as forthrightly to uphold a federal court order in Wichita regarding anti-abortion demonstrators as Ike had acted in 1957 to uphold a federal court order regarding school desegregation.That's not a very fair charge, since, in fact, the Bush administration is grudgingly enforcing a court order in Wichita it doesn't believe in, just as Ike did at Little Rock.The implication that the Battle of Little Rock was one of Eisenhower's famous victories or shining moments is misleading.

Senate Judicial Proceedings Chairman Brian Frosh announced this morning that he has formed an exploratory committee to help him determine if he should run for Attorney General in 2014. The committee includes a long list of impressive names, including two former governors, all six Baltimore City senators and the county executives from Montgomery and Prince George's counties -- the two largest in the state. “These are people I greatly respect, and having their advice, support and endorsement means a great deal to me,” said Frosh, a Montgomery County Democrat.

Longtime Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee chairman Brian Frosh may throw his hat into the Attorney General race in 2014, he confirmed to The Sun via text message. “I want to be attorney general," Frosh said in an interview. "If it looks like the stars are aligned, that's  what I'm going to do.” Frosh said that in the past two days, he's been calling friends and colleagues and "getting a great response. " In the "next few weeks," he will likely announce an exploratory committee.  It is widely believed that current Attorney General Doug Gansler will run for governor in 2014.

Del. Steven R. Schuh said Thursday he has formed an exploratory committee to examine a run for Anne Arundel County Executive in 2014. Schuh, a Pasadena Republican, said the committee was formed in the fall and had its first meeting in October. The disclosure comes as Schuh, who has long been rumored to be considering a run, is leading the pack in fundraising prowess among possible candidates to replace County Executive John R. Leopold, who is term-limited. Schuh has $283,000 in on-hand campaign cash, with $250,000 raised in 2011, according to recently released campaign finance reports.

A longtime top aide and confidant to Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett who has considered running for his boss' seat in 2012 abruptly resigned, the congressman confirmed Thursday, fueling speculation that the 10-term incumbent will not seek another term. Bud Otis, who has served as Bartlett's chief of staff for 11 years and who befriended the congressman more than three decades ago, submitted his resignation after rumors surfaced that he might run for Maryland's newly redrawn 6th District if Bartlett decided to retire.

On weekday mornings, I'll post the most controversial, shocking and (of course) ridiculous stories for your reading pleasure. That way, when you walk into work, you'll be the master of witty conversation. National  • This is disappointing: Bush declines to visit Ground Zero with Obam a. (Politico)  • Even the leader of terrorism didn't want his kids involved: Bin Laden's will . (Daily Beast)  • Details, shmetails" White House changes bin Laden death account . (Politico)

I don't know about you, but when I think of exploratory committees I get excited.  That's why I'm glad Minnesota Republican Tim Pawlenty thinks as I do. When you're announcing that you're creating a committee to potentially explore the possibility of potentially running for president, that possible announcement should be accompanied with triumphant, celestial music, shaky action movie-inspired camera work, thunderous applause, and, of course, a...

Democratic former Congressman Frank Kratovil's name could appear on the ballot again in 2014, if a group of supporters have their way. A "recruit Frank Kratovil" campaign has been launched to entice him to run for Attorney General in the next state-wide election. Kratovil, now a district judge in Queen Anne's County, represented the first congressional district for a single term. He was defeated by Andy Harris, a Republican. "There is no one in Maryland more qualified to do the job," said Anne Arundel County Councilman Jamie Benoit, a Crownsville Democrat, who is a close friend and is helping to lead the effort.

Anne Arundel County Executive Robert R. Neall named a 26-member committee of business and political leaders from across the state yesterday to explore a possible gubernatorial bid that supporters believe is now a virtual certainty.At a $35-a-head fund-raising picnic outside Annapolis, Mr. Neall charged his committee with the eight-week assignment of demonstrating whether he can put together a winning campaign for governor."Make no mistake, I want to do it," the 45-year-old Republican told the gathering of about 500 people under tents pitched at Reds Dove, a sand and gravel company.

MARYLAND political prognosticators have long expected the next governor's race to run through Baltimore County, where Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. mopped the floor with Democrat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend in 2002 and secured nearly his entire margin of victory. Some recent shifts in local races suggest the center of the action can now be pinpointed as the area around Pikesville and Owings Mills. Although filled with generally left-leaning Jewish voters, the area went for Ehrlich in 2002.

Saying he is "ready to step up and take the challenge" of higher office, Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele announced yesterday that he will begin raising money in anticipation of running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democrat Paul S. Sarbanes. Steele sounded much like a candidate when he unveiled an exploratory campaign committee during a morning conference call coordinated by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the Senate recruitment arm of the national Republican Party, headed by North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole.