He’s hopeful the final stimulus package will provide more bang for the buck, he says. That view should be popular with constituents in his conservative district, which takes in the entire Eastern Shore, plus a chunk of mostly Republican parts of Baltimore, Anne Arundel and Harford counties.

Of course, his position can also be viewed as a classic Washington ploy, designed to generate maximum political benefit back home and minimal impact anyplace else. After all, Obama’s package got through the House with a 56-vote cushion, and party leaders very much want to see their members survive in tough districts like Kratovil’s.

If his handling of the stimulus issue is any indication, Kratovil could become a case study in how a freshman successfully defends a marginal House seat. Next year’s election will severely test his political skills, and the contest will almost certainly be rated a tossup until the very end.

Last fall, the former Queen Anne’s County prosecutor was the surprise winner of one of the closest House races in the nation. He is the first Democrat in 18 years to represent the state’s eastern-most district, redrawn at the start of this decade to enhance a decidedly Republican tilt.

He benefited from a rare Republican split. In the primary, conservative State Sen. Andrew Harris of Baltimore County ended the career of moderate Republican Congressman Wayne Gilchrest (who went on to endorse Kratovil) in the primary. Strong turnout for Obama also helped Kratovil, even though Republican John McCain carried the district.

History teaches that Republicans will recapture a number of House seats now held by Democratic freshmen. Some who rode the Obama tide into office will likely get swept out in 2010 as their districts revert to Republican form.

Running as an outsider, Kratovil won by campaigning against Washington. Now, as an incumbent, he’s benefiting from business as usual.

Even before he was sworn in, he attracted more than $20,000 in post-election campaign donations from political action committees. They represent some of the nation’s most powerful interests: the banking industry, pharmaceutical manufacturers, broadcasters, Realtors, dairy farmers (he landed a seat on the Agriculture committee) and companies such as Verizon, Microsoft and Walt Disney.

Democratic leaders also rewarded Kratovil with a spot on the House Armed Services Committee, a magnet for lucrative contributions from defense contractors.

His 2008 Republican rival, Harris, says he’s “looking very seriously” at a rematch and met recently in Washington with officials of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

A committee spokesman, Paul Lindsay, in a carefully worded statement, praised Harris as “an experienced campaigner and proven vote-getter”and said party strategists were “interested” to hear about his plans. The spokesman said his party “will mount a formidable campaign” against Kratovil, “regardless of whom Republicans in Maryland choose as their candidate.”

National Republican and conservative groups have made Kratovil a target for attacks from his first day in office.

It reminds him, he jokes, of a famous Far Side cartoon.

Two white-tail deer are standing alone in a forest. One has a red bull’s-eye on his chest and looks doleful. “Bummer of a birthmark, Hal,” remarks the other.

“Maybe I’m naïve,” says Kratovil, “but what I’ve found in my life is that if you work hard, you can make a difference and you can prevail.” He says that if he asks enough questions, stays independent and provides good constituent service, then “I think I’ll be successful again.”