Clintons to visit Maryland to help raise money to battle GOP

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/elections/bal-md.democrats19sep19,0,6022717.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

By Doug Donovan and Jennifer Skalka
sun reporters
Originally published September 19, 2006
National Democrats - including Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton - are coming to Maryland to help raise millions of dollars that state party leaders say they need to combat President Bush and the GOP's fundraising prowess in this year's most crucial elections.

Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, the Democratic nominee for governor, said the fundraising help is essential to maintain a simultaneous television presence in the costly media markets of Washington and Baltimore.

O'Malley began airing his first campaign commercial in the Washington market Sunday evening after running television ads mostly in the Baltimore region all summer. His Republican rival, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., went on the air in Baltimore and Washington last month.

"It's very expensive," O'Malley said. "Now we're in the final stretch. Hopefully my friends will continue to come through, and our base of support will continue to grow. But it is an expensive proposition."

O'Malley said Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold have raised money for the Maryland Democratic Party. Hillary Clinton, a U.S. senator from New York, is scheduled to headline a fundraiser for Maryland Democrats on Monday night in Adelphi.

"President Clinton himself will be here on Oct. 17," O'Malley said.

A spokeswoman for Ehrlich's re-election campaign said the governor was not concerned by the new ad or the money that could help pay for its distribution.

"Welcome to the statewide race," said Shareese N. DeLeaver.

Maryland Republicans have turned their party's top fundraising draw - President Bush - into campaign help. In August, The Sun reported on how Ehrlich's campaign has used more than $470,000 from a federal account created by the state Republican Party to pay for daily operations.