Frank Kratovil

On Sunday, the Sunpapers predictably endorsed Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Rep. Frank Kratovil. The endorsements trotted out a bunch of reasons that the Sunpapers feel that these two politicians are best suited to represent Marylanders in the Senate and in the Congress. However, neither of them can possibly represent me nor the employees of my company. Let me explain. Starting in July, my small company invited politicians to meet with us in a roundtable question and answer format.

Washington - Frank Kratovil left the country 10 days ago, immediately after casting the first big vote of his Washington career. The new congressman from Maryland wasn't exactly fleeing - though he did duck reporters who wanted to ask why he had just opposed the president's stimulus plan. He was flying out on his first official trip, to the Middle East, which conveniently put him beyond easy reach and allowed passions to cool. Kratovil was one of 11 House Democrats who bucked their party's president on his first major initiative.

There's Audacity of Hope," John Coale was saying, "and then there's just audacity." Coale - the big-time Democratic fundraiser and Clintonite who lent $500,000 to Martin O'Malley's campaign in the last days of the governor's race - made that crack over lunch in Baltimore months ago, when Hillary Clinton was still giving Barack Obama a run for his money. Coale was off the record back then. But he'll let me quote him now that he's made this surprise announcement: He's backing John McCain.

Democrats are expected to expand their majorities in the House and Senate this year. While Maryland has long seemed an unlikely place for the party to make gains, national Democratic leaders believe that the current political climate has improved their prospects here. Democratic prosecutor Frank Kratovil is mounting a strong challenge to GOP state Sen. Andy Harris in the Eastern Shore-based district left open by the Republican primary defeat of longtime Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest. National analysts have called the race a toss-up.

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND TOWN HALL Ritchie Coliseum University of Maryland College Park, Maryland 11:04 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Maryland! (Applause.) Hello! Nice to see you. Thank you so much. (Applause.) Everybody, please have a seat. I see some smart folks up there wore shorts. (Laughter.) My team said I should not wear shorts. (Laughter.) My legs aren't good enough to wear shorts. AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.) (Laughter.) THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. I'll tell Michelle you said so. (Laughter.)

For more than a year, Republicans have been carefully plotting the ouster of Rep. Frank Kratovil of Maryland, one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the country. Party strategists never expected to contend with Rob Fisher, however. An upstart candidate with an outsider message, the conservative businessman has emerged from obscurity, thanks to the most extensive TV ad drive of any Marylander running for Congress. "We need to change what's happening Washington," Fisher said in an interview.

Buoyed by a growing Hispanic population and the availability of steady federal jobs, Maryland grew by 9 percent in the last decade — faster than most Eastern states, according to new Census Bureau data. Maryland's population grew by 480,000 residents, to 5,773,552, according to data released Tuesday. With a growth rate slightly lower than the national average, Maryland maintained its ranking as the nation's 19th-most-populous state — and retained its seats in the House of Representatives.

Frank M. Kratovil Jr., Democrat Andy Harris, Republican Richard James Davis, Libertarian

The recent death of former United States Sen. Mac Mathias provides an appropriate trigger to compare the profiles of Senator Mathias, former U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest and current Rep. Frank Kratovil. Their careers span over 50 years of Maryland's political history but have a striking commonality. All three were/are strong advocates for the citizens of the state and the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Wayne and Frank have been especially dedicated to resolving the challenges that confront the farmers, watermen and environmentalists on the Eastern Shore.

In recent editorials, The Sun endorsed Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain for president and Democrat Frank M. Kratovil Jr. and Republican Wayne T. Gilchrest in Maryland's 1st Congressional District. The editorials - "Betting on change, reform" and "Experience counts" - can be found online at baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/