Maryland tourism commercials featuring Ehrlich cause conflict

Sunday, November 28, 2004

Maryland tourism commercials featuring Ehrlich cause conflict

By Laura D'Alessandro
Special to the Times


Recent commercials promoting Maryland tourism have been viewed by some taxpayers as personal advertising to promote Governor Robert L. Ehrlich's re-election in 2006.

The commercials show Ehrlich and his family visiting private homes out of state and offering to finish chores in order to allow the residents to visit Maryland and "seize the day."

"I think the commercials are promoting him; it's a lot of self-advertising done with the taxpayers' money," said Nancy Howard, chairwoman of the Worcester County Democratic Central Committee. "I also think he's been rewarding a lot of his friends who helped him get to where he is."

Salisbury resident Pete Battle said he wonders why the money put into these commercials isn't going into health insurance and workers compensation. After a recent injury on the job, Battle said he is not able to get medical assistance.
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http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041128/NEWS01/411280305/1002

been done several times before. Pataki and Ed Koch in "I Love New York". Jim McGrievey and his family at the Jersey shore. The former governor and his wife discussing Conneticutt's south shore (Mystic), etc.

If there aren't any other commercials promoting Maryland WITHOUT the governor in them, then I guess you're right in your premise.

I cant stand that goof-ball, Ehrlich. Being from Maryland and voting for him in 2002 im starting to feel like a goof-ball with him. In Maryland we should never have to worry about running into a Republican we cant get rid of but for some reason I have a bad feeling him. It seems to me that he is very well liked in this state and he will be hard to beat in 2006.

I worked in Townsend's campaign against Ehrlich in 2002. You are right. he is popular in Maryland, particularly in the 2nd district which he represented in Congress. He will be hard to beat. The election of 2002 proved that the Dems need to nominate a nominee of high quality. Hopefully, that will be Martin O'Malley.
Ehrlich won by about 67,000 votes. he received a lot of votes from Democrats who were disenchanted with Townsend and the previous administration. However, he has not accomplished anything noteworthy since becoming governor. He has raised real estate taxes, fees and tolls. He was embarassed by this real estate scandal which was uncovered by the Baltimore SUN. He is now engaged in a childish fight with them. However, there is hope. It sounds like you voted for Ehrlich in 2002 but don't intend to in 2006. I hope there are lots of Democrats like you.

I voted for him in 2002 because It was my first chance to vote and I was extremley naive. I had no idea where I stood politically and I was persuaded to vote for Ehrlich because of that. I now realize what my views are and I intend to more than vote for Mr. O'Malley in '06. I intend to do whatever it takes including volunteering however many hours it takes to get him elected. I am from Dundalk and I would like to get in with some groups from around here and statewide to campaign for Democrats in '06 and every election from then on. If anyone has any information please Email me at

nickshep7@hushmail.com

I have seen other governors do similar commercials. The big difference is the Ehrlich commercials contain more of a discussion about what a great guy he is than they contain advertisements about what the State of Maryland has to offer. Previous governors would speak in the commercials, but the pictures were of the beauties of the State of Maryland.

Weird.

I know nothing of this man or the circumstances of his life.

Weird.