Doug Gansler

U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.): Getty ImagesThe Maryland Republican Party welcomed John McCain to the Free State on Tuesday as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee heads to town for a fundraiser in Baltimore on Tuesday evening. Prior to praising McCain, the MDGOP took the opportunity to take a crack at some of its Democratic rivals.

“Senator Ben Cardin, Congressman Elijah Cummings, and Attorney General Doug Gansler were among the politicians present at a ‘Bash McCain’ press conference,” said MDGOP Chairman Jim Pelura in a statement. The three lawmakers attended a “McSame as Bush” news conference in Baltimore on Monday, in light of McCain’s visit to the state.

Elijah Cummings, Ben Cardin and Doug Ganlser speak at a "McSame as Bush" press conferance in Baltimore: Politicker Photo

BALTIMORE – In advance of a visit from John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, three prominent Maryland Democrats spoke at a “McSame as Bush” press conference on Monday. U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Baltimore), U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Baltimore) and Maryland Attorney Gen. Doug Ganlser (D-Montgomery County) stood with members of the 1199SEIU and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

McCain (R-Ariz.) is set to attend a fundraiser in Baltimore tomorrow.

Cardin, who spoke first, asked McCain to listen to Marylander’s during his visit, and suggested McCain would only be in the state to fundraise.

The Talbot County Democrats opened their new head quarters in downtown Easton on Saturday. Featured guests included state's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) and Maryland Attorney Gen. Doug Gansler. President of the Talbot County Democratic Forum, Catherine Poe, served as master of ceremonies.

According to Kratovil campaign manager Tim McCann: “The HQ is going to be used by the Talbot County Democrats for organizational meetings, as a staging point for canvassing and phone banking activities, and as a place where local residents can come for more information and materials about Democratic candidates.”

Gansler has been serving as Maryland’s attorney general since 2006 and serves as the state co-chair of Barack Obama's presidential campaign. Kratovil is currently competing for Maryland’s 1st Congressional District seat against state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville).

Doug Ganlser and Susan Lee at an Asian Pacific Americans for Obama meeting in Bethesda Politcker Photo

BETHESDA – Doug Gansler, state attorney general and Maryland co-chair for the Barack Obama campaign, spoke at Wednesday’s Maryland Asian Pacific Americans for Obama meeting. Gansler was joined by Del. Susan Lee (D-Bethesda), who co-chairs the MAPAs for Obama and serves as deputy majority whip in the state House. Gansler has been the state co-chair of the Obama campaign for over a year.

“The Asian-American community, in my view, has two ways of going,” Gansler told a crowd of about 35, made up mostly of Asian-American youth and their parents. “One, sort of staying out of politics and government or two, getting involved and making the change from the inside in terms of politics.”

Sen. Barack Obama: Getty Images PhotoState Attorney General Doug Gansler and Sixth District Rep. Elijah Cummings are heading west tomorrow to campaign for Barack Obama in West Virginia, which holds its presidential primary this Tuesday.

Cummings will kickoff a canvassing event in Martinsburg, while Gansler will take part in a similar rally in Shepherdstown.

Gansler and Cummings, the co-chairmen of Maryland for Obama, endorsed the Illinois Senator last year.

Doug GanslerDoug Gansler's stock appears to be on the rise while the fortunes of Marylanders United Against Slots are on the decline.

Find out why in Maryland's Winners and Losers for May 9, 2008.

Former Gov. Parris Glendening and former Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend were selected by the state Democratic Central Committee as un-pledged add-on delegates to represent Maryland at the Democratic National Convention, this morning.

Despite their titles, Kennedy Townsend and Glendening have endorsed candidates during the primary cycle; Kennedy Townsend has been a vocal supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) for several months, while Glendening endorsed Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.) last December and has not officially endorsed another candidate since Richardson ended his campaign in January. Richardson, himself, endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in March.

An additional 15 at-large delegates and another 9 delegates selected from party leaders and elected officials were selected. Of these 24 delegates, which are tied to the state's popular vote, which Obama carried in the Feb. 12 primary by 24 points, 15 are pledged Obama supporters and 9 are pledged Clinton supporters. Four additional pledged at-large alternates, three of which are Obama supporters, were also selected.

A task force commissioned by Attorney General Doug Gansler (D) in May 2007 to study election irregularities in Maryland released 13 recommendations to strengthen the state's voting process, Tuesday.

The report was co-chaired by Professor Sherrilyn Ifill from the University of Maryland School of Law and Orlan Johnson, a partner at Saul Ewing LLP in Washington, D.C.

"The task force found that many of the issues brought to its attention will require long-term solutions and changes," Raquel Guillory, director of communications for the attorney general, said in a statement. "However, given the urgency of the 2008 general election, the task force decided to issue its report in two parts. The first report is limited to identifying and addressing problems that can be addressed in time for the general election this year."

Last week, Rep. Al Wynn (D-Mitchellville) announced that he would resign his position in June, leaving seven months before Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington), the presumptive next representative in Maryland’s Fourth Congressional District, is to be sworn-in.

The resignation set off speculation as to whether Gov. Martin O’Malley will declare a special election to fill the remainder of Wynn’s term.

According to the Maryland State Code, Election Law, subsection 8-710- Congressional vacancy - Governor's proclamation, “If there is a vacancy in the office of Representative in Congress, the Governor shall issue a proclamation, within 10 days after the date that the vacancy occurs or becomes known to the Governor, declaring that a special primary election and a special general election shall be held to fill the vacancy.”