Andrew Langer

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Republican U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest wasn't crossing party lines when he endorsed state's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) because he's never been a Republican, according to Andrew Langer - Maryland for McCain's Eastern Shore coordinator.

Gilchrest currently represents Maryland's 1st Congressional District, but was defeated by state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) in the February primary. Gilchrest endorsed Harris' Democratic opponent -- state's Attorney Frank Kratovil -- early Tuesday morning.   

Langer says that Gilchrist's claims that he is reaching across party lines to support Kratovil are nonsense.

"I don't see this as crossing party lines," said Langer, who also serves as president of the Institute for Liberty. "It makes it very clear to any moderate Republican who's thinking about voting for Frank Kratovil that Wayne Gilchrest was never a maverick. He was always a Democrat in Republican clothing."

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Maryland for McCain campaign’s eastern shore coordinator says the Republican Party’s response to convention scheduling sensitivities involving Hurricane Gustav is consistent with Republican philosophies.

“Most of the people here are doing what Republicans do,” Andrew Langer told PolitickerMD.com at the Xcel Energy Center. Langer also serves president of the Institute for Liberty, a conservative small business advocacy group.

“Just find a way to build a community response to situations: not always having to rely on government,” he said.

Andrew Langer is applauding U.S. Sen. John McCain’s choice of Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) as his running mate, calling her a champion of small business.

“John McCain needed an outside-the-box choice to really up the ante in this presidential campaign season. Sarah Palin is that, and more,” Langer said in a statement.

The president of the Institute for Liberty, a conservative small business advocacy group, Langer also serves as the Maryland for McCain campaign’s Eastern Shore coordinator.

Langer touted Palin’s record on small business, before criticizing the opposition for making empty promises and having an insufficient record.

Andrew Langer, the Eastern Shore GOP organizer, has an op-ed up at National Review Online arguing for Michael Steele as John McCain's vice president.

The announcement is coming tomorrow and it will not be Michael Steele.

Note: Langer says he thinks it will either be former Ohio Representatives John Kasich or Rob Portman.

Former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele: Politicker PhotoFormer Lt. Gov. Michael Steele is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention. Details regarding the theme of Steele’s Tuesday speech are still unclear, but the night’s theme will be “reform.”

Steele is the last speaker before primetime on a night that includes former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge.

Steele has been an active surrogate for McCain in recent weeks. The former Lt. Governor has even had his name kicked around as a potential running mate for McCain.

“This invitation demonstrates that Michael Steele is a recognized leader of the Republican Party, and carries with him the full faith and confidence of other Republican leaders to excite the base of the party and help carry it to victory in November,” said Andrew Langer, the Eastern Shore coordinator for the McCain campaign.

Over in Arlington, Virginia at the inaugural GOPAC state and local summit, former Lt. Gov (and the organization's current chairman) Michael Steele hosted Minnesota Gov. and vice presidential prospect Tim Pawlenty for breakfast. Steele, as usual, was effusive with the praise, saying Pawlenty "represents, in my view, the new face of the Republican Party, certainly the leadership of our party."

In other Marylanders, Queen Anne's County very own Andrew Langer will be on a panel there a little later.

The Queen Anne’s County Republican Central Committee hosted their annual crab feast on Thursday. The event, held at Harris Crab House was priced at $45 per person.

According to Andrew Langer, the McCain ’08 Eastern Shore regional director, the event was attended by about 80 people.

Notable attendees included state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville), state GOP Executive Director Justin Ready, Del. Mike Smiegel (R-Cecil County), Del. Richard Sossi (R-Queen Anne’s County), Queen Anne’s County Commission President Eric Wargotz and the Maryland Federation of Republican Women President Pat Parker.

Andrew LangerThe John McCain 2008 presidential campaign will be adding Andrew Langer to its list of volunteer staff. Langer will be coordinating Maryland's eastern shore efforts, though the campaign has not given him an official title as of yet.

Langer is the president of the Institute for Liberty and has worked for the National Federation of Independent Business. He worked on former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign during the Republican primary and wrote Giuliani's small business policy.