Duncan announces. Comes out firing at Ehrlich and O'Malley.

ROCKVILLE // Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan declared his candidacy for governor today with sharp knocks against the leadership of the mayor of Baltimore and the current governor, and offered a promise that if elected, he would make education his first priority.

"Maryland, it's time to think bigger for our state and for our people," Duncan, a Democrat, said during a campaign kickoff speech in front of the modest, four-bedroom home where his parents raised him and 12 siblings.

The speech signaled a campaign theme -- "Think Bigger" -- that is both a reference to Duncan's imposing 6-foot, 4-inch presence and his vision for the state.

Duncan, 49, criticized both Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, his primary opponent, and Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. in his remarks before about 300 enthusiastic supporters in a county where he is serving in his third term as the top elected official.

"I look at our governor and I see a single-minded focus on slot machines and a public policy that is better described as public relations," Duncan said.

In a reference to O'Malley, who has higher statewide name recognition than Duncan and has been ahead in early polling, Duncan said: "Rhetoric is not a plan. Optimism alone is not a strategy. And you have to do a lot more than just 'Believe' that things are going to turn out OK."

O'Malley has made the "Believe" campaign his hallmark and part of a call for optimism in Baltimore, which continues to have high crime rates and poorly performing schools despite rising property values and some commercial rebirth.

Duncan was criticized last month for pointing out some of Baltimore's problems on the eve of the mayor's campaign announcement. Today, he defended his decision to talk about the city's needs and said the dialogue would continue.

"We won't move forward in our state while our largest city continues to lag behind," Duncan said. "Those who suggest that discussing the problem is a disservice to Baltimore are the ones selling short the city."

Duncan outlined what he said was a three-point plan for education, and said he would release more details soon. The three components, he said, were affordable college tuition for all students; the creation of public-private partnerships to boost parental involvement; and a commitment to place education funding ahead of other programs.

"With me as governor, education gets funded first. Period," he said.

As county executive, Duncan has been credited with helping maintain good schools and a healthy economy in the state's most populous jurisdiction. But Montgomery County is widely perceived as being wealthier and more liberal than the rest of the state -- hurdles that Duncan must overcome if he is to be successful.

The primary election is scheduled for September 2006, and the general election is next November.